Free ration scheme for 15 crore people in Uttar Pradesh may be extended till 2024
India Today
The free ration scheme might be extended by the UP government till 2024, the year when the next Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held. The distribution of free rations is considered to be one of the major reasons for the BJP's resounding victory in the recently concluded state assembly poll.
The free ration scheme for 15 crore people from the economically weaker section may be extended till 2024 in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The UP government plans to continue the scheme while preparing the ground for the goal of Mission 2024, when the next Lok Sabha elections are scheduled. The distribution of free rations is considered one of the major reasons for the victory of the BJP in the state.
The decision about the scheme is to be taken in the first cabinet meeting to be held after the oath ceremony of Yogi Adityanath and the cabinet. The BJP had a massive victory in the recently concluded state assembly poll, winning 255 out of the 403 seats.
The UP government is preparing to take big decisions on the promises that were made during the polls in the first cabinet meeting itself. However, any decision can only be taken after the government forms. There are only internal preparations going on for now.
According to sources, the Yogi government will expand the scheme to provide free rations to eligible families in the state. For this, the Food and Logistics Department has prepared a proposal and sent it to the government. At present there are 15 crore beneficiaries of this scheme and this number will be extended further.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was announced by the Centre during the pandemic. In this scheme, free rations were given to all the ration cardholders.
After this scheme ended in November 2021, the Yogi Adityanath government extended the scheme saying that this facility would now be provided by the state government till March 2022.
