Yogi Adityanath Government Announces Extension Of PM-GKAY Ration Scheme Till Holi

"We are extending the (PM-GKAY) free ration scheme till Holi. Under this, we'll not only provide rice and wheat but we'll also give pulses, salt & edible oil," said Adityanath

New Delhi: The UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced during the occasion of 'Deepotsava' celebrations in Ayodhya, that the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) will be extended till Holi.

"Today is a sacred occasion and to fulfil the dream of Ram Rajya, we are extending the (PM-GKAY) free ration scheme till Holi. Under this, we'll not only provide rice and wheat but we'll also give pulses, salt & edible oil," said Adityanath according to ANI.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is a food security welfare scheme that was announced by the Centre in March last year due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Under which, 5 Kg per person additional food grain is given to all beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act.

Aside from this, the central government announced cutting the excise duty on petrol and diesel, the Uttar Pradesh government too on Wednesday lowered the VAT on the two fuels making them cheaper by Rs 12 per litre in the state.

The state government has decided to reduce the VAT by Rs 7 and Rs 2 respectively on petrol and diesel. Now with the cut in excise duty by the Centre and reduction of VAT by the state government, their prices will come down by Rs 12 per litre in the state, Additional Chief Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal said, according to PTI.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, through a tweet, praised the central government's decision and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the same.

"Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to reduce the excise duty on petrol and diesel in the public interest has given additional gaiety to Diwali. This decision is going to bring relief to every section of society. Heartfelt thanks to the respected Prime Minister on behalf of all the people of the state," Yogi said in a tweet.

Uttar Pradesh entered the Guinness Book of World Records once again as on the occasion of Deepotsav on Wednesday lit 12 lakh diyas on the occasion of 'Deepotsav 2021' and, out of 12 lakh diyas, 9,51,000 earthen lamps were lit on the bank of the Saryu river in Ayodhya while 50,000 diyas were lit at the site of the Ram temple and the rest were lit in other temples across the state.

The UP's Department of Tourism and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University jointly entered into Guinness World Records for "largest display of oil lamps". 

During his speech at the Deepotsav, CM Yogi Adityanath said, "This is the fifth Deepotsav of Ayodhya. There was no discussion of Deepotsav in the city before five years but our government came and decided that if we want to bring "Ram Rajya" then we will have to organize events like this."

"The festival is crossing its boundary. It is no more limited to India but spreading across the world," said the UP CM.

"The government has done innumerable works for the development of Ayodhya, the centre of faith and identity and its foundation stone is still going on," he added.

The UP Government left no stone unturned to make it a spectacular event and many spectacular events like Ramlila staging, laser show, 3D holographic show and fireworks are being held since Monday.