PMGKAY: Welfare Scheme For Food Security Enters 7th Phase With Rs 3.91 Lakh Crore Expenditure So Far

Under PMGKAY, 5 kg of food grain is provided free of cost per person per month to all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Govt extends free ration scheme for poor by 3 months ( Image Source :PTI )

Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for a further period of three months. With the cabinet nod in, the beneficiaries can avail food grains under this welfare scheme till December 2022. So far, PMGKAY has been in operation for 25 months. The central government scheme is in its seventh phase now.  

Under PMGKAY, 5 kg of food grain is provided free of cost per person per month to all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of PMGKAY in 2020 after the covid-19 pandemic struck, which had a major impact on the country's economy and the livelihoods of people with many losing their jobs. During the difficult phase of COVID-19, PMGKAY sought to provide food security to the poor, needy and vulnerable households. 

The financial implication of PMGKAY for the Centre has been about Rs 3.45 lakh crore up to phase 6. With the additional expenditure of about Rs 44,762 crore for Phase 7 of this scheme, the overall expenditure will go up to Rs 3.91 lakh crore for all the phases.

The total outgo in terms of food grains for the PMGKAY Phase 7 is likely to be about 122 LMT. The aggregate allocation of food grain for phases I- VII is about 1121 LMT.

 • Phase I and Phase II (8 months): April 2020 to November 2020

• Phase III to Phase V (11 months): May 2021 to March 2022

• Phase-VI (6 months): April 2022 to September 2022

The extension comes just ahead of the festive season and the Centre has said it will help the "poor and vulnerable sections of society" celebrate Navratri, Dussehra, Milad-un-nabi, Deepawali, Chhath pooja, Gurunanak dev Jayanti, Christmas, etc. "with great gaiety and community for festivities".

The decision also comes ahead of the crucial Gujarat and Himachal assembly elections.