PMGKAY: Modi Govt To Extend Scheme Providing Free Food Grain To Poor Beyond Sept 30, Cabinet To Give Nod

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was announced in March 2020 after the first Covid-19 lockdown was implemented across the country. The scheme was scheduled to end on March 31, 2022.

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New Delhi: The Centre is likely to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana by three months, as per ABP News sources. The decision to extend the scheme, under which free food grains are provided to the poor, will be taken during the cabinet meeting which is slated to take place today at 10:30 am. 

The scheme is set to expire on September 30, but the cabinet meeting ahead of it is likely to extend the scheme by three more months. 

In March this year, the Centre had already extended the scheme by six months till September 30 at a cost of Rupees 80 thousand crore. The decision to extend the scheme then was taken during a cabinet meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was announced in March 2020 after the first Covid-19 lockdown was implemented across the country. The scheme was scheduled to end on March 31, 2022.

Under this scheme, the government provides free five kilograms of food grains per person to more than 80 crore beneficiaries who are covered under the National Food Security Act, including those covered under the direct benefit transfer.

Initially the scheme was supposed to remain in effect for the period April-June 2020. However, it was extended till November 30 due to a surge in Covid caseload across the country. The Union Cabinet, in November last year, had again extended the scheme for another four months. 

"In keeping with the concern and sensitivity towards poor and vulnerable sections of society, the Union Cabinet has extended the PM-GKAY scheme for another six months i.e, till September 2022 (Phase VI)," an official statement had said.

The free ration received under this scheme is over and above the subsidised food grains provided to the cardholders through ration shops.