The Modi government’s recent decision to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for an additional five years, providing 5 kg of free foodgrains per month to approximately 81.35 crore economically disadvantaged individuals, holds significant implications. This decision, taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is estimated to cost the exchequer around Rs 11.80 lakh crore.
The extension of this scheme, effective from January 1, 2024, has been attributed to several key factors and has far-reaching impacts:
- Long-term Commitment to Food Security: The government has stated that this extension underscores its long-term commitment and vision toward ensuring national food and nutrition security. By extending this scheme, the government aims to address food insecurities faced by a significant portion of the population for an extended duration.
- Mitigating Financial Hardship: The goal is to alleviate financial distress among the vulnerable sections of society in a sustainable manner. By providing free rations, the government intends to support those who are economically disadvantaged and vulnerable, ensuring they have access to basic food necessities without incurring additional costs.
- Long-term Pricing Strategy: The extended PMGKAY ensures a sustained zero-cost pricing strategy for beneficiaries. By continuing this initiative, the government seeks to maintain a consistent and predictable system for providing essential food items to those in need, thereby ensuring their food security without imposing financial burdens.
- Significant Savings for Ration Card Holders: The scheme’s extension recognizes the substantial financial relief it offers to ration card holders. The provision of free foodgrains significantly contributes to the monthly savings of these individuals and families, easing their financial burdens and enhancing their overall economic stability.
The PMGKAY, initially introduced in 2020 as a relief measure during the pandemic, was an addition to the existing subsidized foodgrain provision under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). When the PMGKAY concluded in December 2022 after multiple extensions, it was assimilated under the NFSA, ensuring free rations for a year.
Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), there are two groups of people who get help: the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which are the poorest families, get 35 kilograms of food every month. The other group, called priority households, get 5 kilograms of food for each person in their family every month.
The extension of PMGKAY underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring sustained support and food security for the economically disadvantaged sections of society, reinforcing the significance of addressing food and nutrition security as a pivotal aspect of national welfare policies.
