80 Cr People To Get Free Food Grains Till November-End, Says PM Modi In His Address To Nation

PM rolled out the central government plan and revealed that the extension of the scheme will cost over Rs 90 thousand crore.

The extension of PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme will cost over Rs 90 thousand crore. (Image: Twitter/PIB)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the extension of PM Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana for further five months in order to help people with free food facilities during upcoming festive months. While addressing to the nation, PM Modi said that the government will keep distributing free foodgrains to the poor sections of the society as the need usually increases during the festival time which begins from July and caries on till end of November with Chhat Puja. PM rolled out the central government plan and revealed that the extension of the scheme will cost over Rs 90 thousand crore.

It has been decided that #PradhanMantriGaribKalyanAnnaYojana will be extended till the end of Diwali / Chhath Puja, i.e. the scheme to give free food to more than 80 crore people will run in July, August, September, October and November too

- PM @narendramodi #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/wfYP2IQJmd — PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 (@PIBMumbai) June 30, 2020

PM Modi went on to express his gratitude to the hard working farmers and tax payers of the country who enabled the government in executing a massive free food drive for the needy sections of the society. "Today, if the government is able to provide free food grains to the poor and the needy, the credit goes to two sections. First, the hardworking farmers of our country and second, the honest taxpayers. I thank you from my heart," PM said. Prime Minister went on to add that soon after lockdown was announced, central government had come up with Rs 1.75 lakh crore  Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for the poor. Under this, 20 crore poor families got 31,000 crore directly in their Jan Dhan bank accounts during last 3 months.  Also, Rs. 18000 crore deposited in bank accounts of more than 9 crore farmers. Further in his address, PM unveiled centre's plan of launching 'One Nation, One Ration Card' to facilitate migrating poor who have to shift from one place to the other for work purposes. "Now a ration card is also being arranged for the whole of India. The biggest benefit of this will be to those poor colleagues who leave their village and go elsewhere for employment or other needs," PM said.