Govt to distribute free pulses to 19.5 crore households under Food Security Act

New Delhi: The government has started distribution of one kg of free pulses per month to every ration card holder covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA). The pulses will be distributed to 19.5 crore households for three months till June under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PM-GKY), announced to provide relief to poor people during Corona pandemic.

“Around 1.08 lakh tonnes pulses have so far been issued to the States/UTs. This will be distributed across 36 states and union territories,” said an agriculture department official.

The official said that states like Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chattisgarh, Goa and Gujarat have commenced the distribution of pulses to the beneficiaries.


“Other States like Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi have received the partial stock and will commence the distribution to the beneficiaries in phased manner as per their plan,” the official said.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme, which gives cash benefit of Rs 6000 annually to farmers in three equal instalments, 8.89 crore farmers have been benefitted and an amount of Rs 17,793 crore has been released so far since lockdown period from March 24.