New Delhi, Jun 23 (FN Bureau) The Government on Wednesday approved allocation of additional food grain under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (Phase IV) for another period of five months from July to November 2021. A decision in this regard was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official statement said. Additional free of cost foodgrain at 5 kg per person per month will be given to 81.35 Crore beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA) (Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Households) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The sanction of the additional food grain free of cost to a maximum of 81.35 crore individuals would entail an estimated food subsidy of Rs 64,031 crore.
The Centre is bearing the entire expenditure towards this Scheme without any contribution by States and Union Territories while an additional expenditure of about Rs 3,234.85 crore would be required to be met towards transportation and handling and Fair Price Shops’ dealers’ margins. Thus, the total estimated expenditure to be borne by Government of India will be Rs 67,266.44 crore. The total outgo in terms of food grains may be around 204 Lakh MT. Additional allocation will ameliorate the hardships faced by poor due to economic disruption caused by Covid Pandemic.