Amid the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Union Cabinet on Wednesday (5 May) approved allocation of additional foodgrain under the Phase III of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) to the beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for another two months.

Under the phase-III of the PMGKY, the Cabinet approved allocation of additional foodgrain for May and June at 5 kg per person per month free of cost.

The move is expected to benefit about 79.88 crore beneficiaries covered under the NFSA, including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

According to an official release, the state and UT-wise allocation in terms of wheat and rice shall be decided by the Department of Food and Public Distribution on the basis of existing allocation ratio under NFSA.

Also, the Department of Food and Public Distribution may decide on the extension of the lifting or distribution period under PMGKAY as per operational requirements keeping in view partial and local lockdown situations, and also arising out of adverse weather conditions like monsoon, cyclones, supply chain and Covid-induced constraints etc, it added.

The total outgo in terms of food-grains may be approximately 80 LMT, the release said.

The allocation of additional food-grain free of cost to approximately 79.88 crore individuals under targeted public distribution system (TPDS) at 5 Kg per person per month for two months i.e. May to June, 2021 would entail an estimated food subsidy of Rs 25332.92 crore taking the estimated economic Cost of Rs 36789.2/MT for rice and Rs 25731.4/ MT for wheat, it said.

The release added that the additional allocation will ameliorate the hardships faced by poor due to economic disruption caused by Corona Virus. No poor family will suffer on account of non-availability of food-grains due to disruption in the next two months.