Centre asks states to lift food grains for free distribution to poor

The centre has asked states to lift food grains for distribution to 80 crore poor people under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which provides free of cost 5 kg wheat or rice to ration card holders per month for two months starting from May.

This will be over and above their regular monthly quota of 5 kg subsidised food grain distributed under National Food Security Act (NFSA).

“We have sufficient food grains in our godowns. States and union territories can lift their two months’ requirement. Lakshadweep has completely lifted May -June allocation whereas Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have already lifted 100 percent of May allocation. So far, we have moved 5.88 lakh tonnes of food grains from our godowns. We have asked remaining states to start lifting grains at the earliest,” said a senior food ministry official.


He said that the central government has also asked states and union territories to encourage migrant NFSA beneficiaries for using the facility of portability under One Nation One Ration Card plan.

“Due to pandemic, there are many labourers stuck in different parts of the country. Few states have announced lockdown forcing them to stay back. They can avail the facility of ration card portability to get free food grains under PMGKAY,” the official said.

The centre, last month, has announced to spend Rs 26,000 crore towards distribution of 8 million tones of wheat or rice free of cost to 80 crore poor people during the months of May and June.

“Due to Covid-19 pandemic, there is disruption in regular economic activities. The government will support poor people with easy availability of food grains,” he said.