81 crore people to receive free food grains under NFSA for one year

81 crore people to receive free food grains under NFSA for one year

The Government of India has decided to give free food grains to beneficiaries under National Food Security Act, 2013 for a year commencing in January 2023. But at the same time, Government has decided to discontinue Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) which provides additional 5kg of free food grain per month to NFSA beneficiaries.

Decreased food grain stock : Combined food grain stock in 2022 stood at 305.69 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT), a decrease from 2021 (591.56 LMT).

Rising economic cost for rice : Economic cost is made up of Acquisition cost (MSP + Procurement Incidental Cost) and distribution cost.

Benefits of this initiative

It will ensure nationwide uniformity and effective implementation of NFSA, and further decrease the financial burden of from the poorest of the poor beneficiaries.

National Food Security Act 2013

• NFSA provides food and nutritional security to households divided into two categories which are Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority households.
• AAY covers the households headed by widows, disabled person, terminally ill persons, person aged 60 years or more without assured means of subsistence or societal support. Its beneficiaries households are entitled to 35 kg of food grain per family per month.
• Priority households are entitled to 5kg per person per month.
• Subsidised food grains in which rice at ₹3/kg, wheat at ₹2/kg and coarse grain at ₹1/kg are provided to beneficiaries.
• It covers nearly 75% of rural and 50% of urban population combined to 66% of India’s population.
• It also provides maternity benefits to pregnant and lactating women of not less than ₹ 6000/-.
• Children upto 14 years of age will be entitled to receive nutritious meals in Government Schools.
• The State Governments/UT are responsible for developing criteria for identifying priority households and actual identifying them.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

• It was launched in 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to supply food grains to migrants and poor amidst Covid-19 pandemic.
• Over 81.35 crore people will receive 5kg of free wheat or rice per person per month, along with 1kg of free whole chana per family per month.
• This is in addition to the regular monthly entitlements under NFSA.