31 States lift 15.30LMT food grains under PMGKAY

States have lifted 15.30 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for free distribution under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) until July 12, said the ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in a statement.

Under this scheme, an additional foodgrain quota of 5 kg per person per month is being provided free of cost to around 80 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The additional foodgrains will be provided till November.

"The Government of India is running the longest ever exercise of distributing free food grains to the people during COVID-19 pandemic time to ensure food security," an official statement said.


Under PMGKAY-IV (July-November 2021), lifting has started by 31 States i.e. Andhra Pradesh, A&N, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, D&N Haveli/Daman & Diu, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal and 15.30 LMT food grains have been lifted.

Food Corporation of India, the nodal agency for distribution, has already positioned adequate stocks in all states and UTs for successful implementation of PMGKAY-IV. "At present, 583 LMT wheat and 298 LMT rice (Total 881 LMT food grains) are available under Central Pool," the statement said.

Under PMGKAY-III (May-June 2021) Food Corporation of India has supplied 78.26 LMT free food grains to all 36 States/ UTs.

FCI is transporting food grains all across the country to ensure smooth supply to all States/ UT Governments. Since April 1, 2021, 4005 food grain rakes have been loaded by FCI.