PRADHAN MANTRI GARIB KALYAN ANNA YOJANA (PMGKAY): ENSURING FOOD SECURITY
Why in the News?
- Centre providing food grains free of cost under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
Source: Research Gate
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a food security scheme launched by the Government of India in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Free Food Distribution: The Centre is providing food grains free of cost through PMGKAY.
- National Food Security Act (2013): This initiative aligns with the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Objective and Duration:
- Financial Relief: Aims to remove the financial burden on poor beneficiaries.
- One-Year Program: PMGKAY offers free food grains to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries for one year starting from January 1, 2023.
- Enhanced Food Security: Strengthens the Food Security network in the country.
Strengthening NFSA Provisions:
- Accessibility, Affordability, and Availability: Decision taken to enhance these aspects of NFSA provisions.
- Uniform Implementation: Focus on nationwide uniformity and effective implementation of NFSA (2013).
Food Subsidy Schemes:
- Government’s Responsibility: Central Government fully bears the Food Subsidy.
- Procurement and Transportation: Includes procuring, allocating, transporting, and delivering food grains till designated depots in States.
- Consolidation under PMGKAY: Two food subsidy schemes (Food Subsidy to FCI and Food Subsidy to Decentralized Procurement States) consolidated under PMGKAY.
Distribution Mechanism:
- Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): Free food grains distributed through TPDS.
Coverage under NFSA:
- Extensive Coverage: NFSA, 2013 covers up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
- High Intended Beneficiaries: Against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.48 crore beneficiaries are identified by States/UTs under PMGKAY.
PMGKAY emerges as a crucial initiative, aligning with NFSA provisions, ensuring financial relief, and contributing to the comprehensive food security of vulnerable and needy sections of society.