Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT
OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1281
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27TH JULY, 2021
IMPLEMENTATION OF PMGKAY
1281. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL
Will the !Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:
(a) the measures introduced by the Ministry to address the food security and nutritional challenges during the lockdown period;
(b) the challenges faced by Government in ensuring food security during lockdown;
(c) the changes in the current status of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Targeted Public Distribution Systen1(TPDS) schemes in 2020;
(d) the foodgrains allotted under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) since inception _so far, State-wise; and
(e) whether the Ministry has increased the scope of the schemes to tackle increasing food insecurity during the pandemic, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a): In pursuance of the pro-poor measures under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package as part of the Economic Response to COVID -19, Govt of India had launched scheme i.e Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana(PMGKAY) for additional allocation of food-grains from the Central Pool @ 5 kg per person per month free of cost for all the beneficiaries covered under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)/National Food Security Act(NFSA) (Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) & Priority Households(PHH)) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for a period of 8 months i.e April-November ,2020. During the period of 8 months, about 322 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) of food-grains had been allocated to approx. 80 crore beneficiaries.
The above PMGKAY scheme has also been implemented during the year 2021 for tht period of 7 months i.e May-November, 2021.Accordingly, about 278 LMT foodgrains have been allocated free of cost to approximately 80 Crore NFSA beneficiaries.
In addition to foodgrains, during the year 2020, under PMGKAY· pulses have also been provided @ 1kg per household per month for 8 months i.e April to November, 2020 free of cost to all beneficiaries under NFSA covering 19.4 crore households. During the period April-June, 2020 an adjusted allocation of about 5.65 LMT pulses have been made in comparison to 5.82 LMT pulses allotted originally for 3 months and during the period July-November, 2020 an adjusted allocation of about 8.82 LMT whole chana have been made in compar son to 9.38 LMT of whole chana allotted originally for 5 months.
Also, under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package (ANBP), allocation of free foodgrain(wheat and rice) for migrants/stranded migrants, who are not covered under NFSA or state ration card,@ 5 kg per person per month for two months i.e May and June, 2020 was made.
Under ANBP, whole Chana was also provided @ 1kg per household per month for two months, May and June,free of cost to migrants, who were not covered under NFSA, 2013 or were without ration card in the States/UTs in which they were stranded. Accordingly, a quantity of 27,001.19 MT whole Chana was allotted for two months (May.June, 2020).
The allocation of foodgrains/pulses/chana under PMGKAY and ANBP IsIn addition to normal allocation done under the NFSA.
(b) Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT Governments, wherein the operational responsibilities pertain with the State/UT. No specific challenges were reported by the States/UTs. Distribution of free of cost foodgrains under PMGKAY was monitored constantly through virtual meetings with States/UTs. In addition, Monitoring institutions engaged by the Govt. have conducted evaluation studies and reported a very highlevel of satisfaction w’lth implementation of food security measures during COVID-19. The distribution of foodgrains under NFSA and PMGKAY was found to be on the average of nearly 93-94%. Foodgrains have been distributed to nearly 75 crore beneficiaries every month during the lockdown.
(c) There has been no significant changes in the current status of Public Distribution System (PDS) and Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Department of Food & Public Distribution makes allocation of foodgrains (whea·t and rice) to the States/UTs under TPDS in terms of NFSA, 2013. Under the Act eligible households, which comprise of AAY households and priority households,are entitled to receive foodgrains @ Rs 1/2/3 per kg for nutri-cereals/wheat/rice respectively. NFSA is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT Govt. Central Govtis responsible for allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the FCI. The operational responsibilities for allocation of foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards to them, distribution of foodgralns to eligible beneficiaries rest with the concerned State/UT Govt. During 2020-21, additional foodgrains (free of cost) to the tune of nearly 298 LMT was distributed all over the country to NFSA beneficiaries.
(d) State/UT-Wi!se details of allocation of foodgrains under PMGKAY schemes since its inceptionis placed at Annexure-I
(e) Yes Sir.In addition· to PMGKAY and ANBP, Govt of India has also allocated foodgrains under Open · Market Sale Scheme(Domestic)(OMSS(D)). Under (OMSS(D), foodgrains have been allocated for all the beneficia”fies to whom ration cards have beenissued by the State Governments under their own scheme but who are not covered under NFSA, @ 5 kg per person per month for distribution to such beneficiaries for three months from April to June, 2020 at Rs. 21/- per Kg. wheat and Rs. 22/- per Kg. rice. Gol had directed FCI to make available the required quantity of foodgrains, as per the demands of the States/UTs, from Central Pool Stocks for distribution to such person holding valid cards issued by the State/UT Govts. There is no upper limit for allocation of foodgrain to such organisations from any FCI depot. This scheme has been extended from May 2021 to March 2022, whichever is later.
Additional quantities of 9.66 LMT foodgrains during 2020-21 and quantity of 2.79 LMT foodgrains so far during the year 2021-22 have been released under Open Market Sale Scheme(OMSS) as per the demands of the States/UTs, from Central Pool Stocks for meeting additional requirements of the State/UT Govts, as per their locally assessed requirements.
ANNEXURE-1
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO JN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1281 FOR ANSWER ON 27.07.2021 IN THE LOK SABHA
