NEW DELHI: The states and Union Territories have distributed about 50% of the free foodgrains to the poor under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna (PMGKAY) for May.
While some states including Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh have distributed the allocated foodgrains to 77-81% of the beneficiaries, in states including Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Goa the distribution till May 25 was less than 1%.
Officials said the distribution of the free 5 kg foodgrain to each identified beneficiary under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is less in some states because they had distributed 2-3 months quota of foodgrain in advance to the beneficiaries under NFSA before the PMGKAY-III was announced.
Sources said the Centre had allowed the states in April to distribute foodgrains to the beneficiaries for up to six months in advance. “This step was taken as the number of Covid infections started increasing. It was felt that advance distribution of foodgrains will also help reduce crowding and infection. We are confident that the entire allocated foodgrains will be distributed by states by the end of June,” said a food ministry official.
The government has rolled out the PMGKAY-III for two months — May and June — which entitles around 80 crore beneficiaries under the NFSA to get 5 kg of foodgrains free of cost. The scheme was successful in bringing relief to people during the first wave of Covid, according to the government.
While some states including Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh have distributed the allocated foodgrains to 77-81% of the beneficiaries, in states including Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Goa the distribution till May 25 was less than 1%.
Officials said the distribution of the free 5 kg foodgrain to each identified beneficiary under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is less in some states because they had distributed 2-3 months quota of foodgrain in advance to the beneficiaries under NFSA before the PMGKAY-III was announced.
Sources said the Centre had allowed the states in April to distribute foodgrains to the beneficiaries for up to six months in advance. “This step was taken as the number of Covid infections started increasing. It was felt that advance distribution of foodgrains will also help reduce crowding and infection. We are confident that the entire allocated foodgrains will be distributed by states by the end of June,” said a food ministry official.
The government has rolled out the PMGKAY-III for two months — May and June — which entitles around 80 crore beneficiaries under the NFSA to get 5 kg of foodgrains free of cost. The scheme was successful in bringing relief to people during the first wave of Covid, according to the government.