Cabinet Extends Free Grain Distribution To 81.35 Crore Poor For 5 Years
NDTV
PMGKAY was introduced in 2020 as a pandemic relief measure, under which 5 kg of free foodgrains per beneficiary per month was provided in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
With general elections scheduled for April-May next year, the government on Wednesday extended the PMGKAY scheme to provide 5 kilogrammes of free foodgrains per month to 81.35 crore poor for another five years that would cost the exchequer about Rs 11.80 lakh crore.
A decision in this regard was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday.
Giving details on Wednesday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said, "The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) has been extended for another five years from January 1, 2024." The minister said the expenditure on scheme will be around Rs 11.8 lakh crore over the next five years.
