EditorialA timely succour!

A timely succour!

Date:

As expected, the central government has extended by another three months its Free Dry Ration distribution under the Pradhan
Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). It would provide relief to 80 crore poor beneficiaries in the country. After reviewing
the stock situation which is adequately available, the government finally extended the free Food programme for further three
months beyond September 30.
Initially, the PMGKAY was launched in March 2020 to provide free 5 Kg foodgrains per person per month to about 80 crores
beneficiaries covered under the Food Security Act (NFSA) to reduce their hardship during the lockdown period in 2020.
The scheme has been extended multiple times since then and now will be valid till December 2022. The government has
allocated over 1,000 lakh tonne of free food grain under the PMGKAY till Phase VI. Interestingly the total expenditure under the
programme has touched nearly Rs. 3.40 lakh crore. The free food grains are over and above the normal quota provided under
the NFSA at a highly subsidised rate of Rs. 2-3 per kg.
In the face of severe criticism from the opposition parties and reports in the media, highlighting the plight of the poor and
marginalized section due to inflationary pressure, it was expected from the government to come to their rescue.
The extension will act as a step forward to provide a timely breather to the poor. The extension in programme to provide free
rations to the poor at a cost of Rs 44,762 crore as it looked to ease out the pain from high inflation and make political gains in the
upcoming Gujarat elections. The scheme to provide 5 kg of wheat and rice free of cost to 80 crore poor every month, which was
ending on September 30, will now run through December 31 this year.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) that was started in April 2020 to help the poor, whose livelihoods
were almost shut by a nationwide lockdown aimed at containing the spread of the Coronavirus, was acclaimed worldwide. At a
time when the is battling with the effects of Covid on its decline and insecurity due to various reasons, has been
successfully maintaining food security for its vulnerable sections while taking necessary steps to keep availability and
affordability for the common man, an official statement said. Recognising that people have gone through a difficult period of
pandemic, government has decided to extend PMGKAY for a period of three months so that poor and vulnerable sections of
society are supported for the forthcoming major festivals

Northlines
Northlines
The Northlines is an independent source on the Web for news, facts and figures relating to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and its neighbourhood.

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