Government’s biggest gift to the poor, extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana by 5 years

News India Live, Digital Desk: Giving a huge gift to crores of poor and weaker sections of the country, the Central Government has extended the ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ (PMGKAY) for the next five years. Now under this scheme, about 81.35 crore beneficiaries will continue to get free grains till December 2028. This decision was taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its objective is to ensure that no poor in the country sleeps hungry.

What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?

This is a huge food security scheme of the Government of India, which was started in March 2020 during the Corona epidemic. Its purpose was to save the poor and migrant laborers from going hungry during the lockdown and economic crisis. Initially it was launched only for a few months, but considering its need, the government continued to push it forward.

What are the benefits available under the scheme?

Under this scheme, beneficiaries not only get free food grains but also many other benefits.

1. Free Grains: This is the biggest and main benefit of this scheme.
   • Priority Household (PHH) Ration card holders every month 5 kg per person Grain (wheat or rice) is available absolutely free.
   • Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families covered under 35 kg per family Grain is given free every month.
   • This grain is not in addition to the subsidized ration available under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), but now the grain available under NFSA has been made completely free for the next five years under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
2. Financial assistance and other benefits (which were part of the package during the pandemic): When the scheme was launched as a larger package in 2020, it also included benefits like direct cash transfer.
   • Cash was sent directly to the Jan Dhan accounts of poor women.
   • Additional financial assistance was also given to the elderly, widows and the disabled.
   • Advance installments were given to farmers under the PM-Kisan scheme and the daily wages of MNREGA workers were increased.

Who are the beneficiaries of this scheme?

The benefit of this scheme is available to all those who are covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This mainly includes these people:

• Ration card holders of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH).
• Landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans (like potters, weavers, blacksmiths).
• People living in slums and dependent on daily wage labor in cities (e.g. porters, rickshaw pullers, ragpickers).
• All eligible BPL (Below Poverty Line) families.

How to avail the benefits of this scheme?

To avail the benefits of this scheme, you must have only a valid ration card. Under the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme, you can go to the government ration shop (Fair Price Shop) located in any corner of the country and get your share of free food grains. For this you have to get biometric (thumb impression) verification done at the shop.

This decision of the government will ensure that for the next five years no poor person in the country has to worry about their two-time livelihood.