Additional free benefit provided under PMGKAY for a period of three months
The Center on Friday said there is no proposal to extend free food grain supply through Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to provide relief to ration card holders in view of improving economy and good disposal of food grains in the open. Market under OMSS policy.
Initially, additional free benefits under PMGKAY were provided for a period of three months (April-June 2020) to mitigate the distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the crisis continuing, the program was extended for another five months (July-November 2020).
After the onset of the second wave of the pandemic, PMGKAY was launched once again for a period of two months (May-June 2021) and was further extended for a further period of five months (July-November 2021).
When asked whether the government would go ahead with the scheme, Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said, “As the economy is also reviving and our OMSS (Open Market Sale Scheme) foodgrains disposal has also been exceptionally good this year. So, there is no proposal. Extend PMGKAY.”
The OMSS policy has been consumer friendly this year, he told reporters during a press briefing on the fall in edible oil prices. The government is selling rice and wheat to bulk consumers under the OMSS policy to improve availability and check prices in the domestic market.
The Center is providing additional quantity of 5 kg food grains per month free of cost to over 80 crore beneficiaries over and above the normal quota under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
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