Current Affairs 2022: Extension of Gareeb Kalyan Yojana and its effects

By Ankita

The government of India extended the Garib Kalyan Yojana till March 2022. Read here the important highlights of the scheme.

The Union Cabinet has recently approved the extension for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for another 4 months (till March 2022). Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is a scheme provided by the government as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to offer free food grains to the poor and migrants.

The PMGKAY is a part of the government Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package to support the poor against the fight with Covid 19. Initially, it was announced for 3 months in 2020 (i.e. April, May, June), including 80 crore ration cardholders; later, it was extended till November 2020. Phase 1 was operational from April to June 2020, Phase 2 was operational from July to November 2020, Phase 3 was operational from May to June 2021, Phase 4 was operational from July to November 2021.
NFSA aimed to provide an additional 5 kg of grains for free to each person covered under the National Food Security Act 2013 and 5 kg of subsidized food grains were already provided from the Public Distribution System. In Phase 4 of PMGKAY, there will be no free of cost 1 kg pulses per month to all those covered under NFSA. It is advantageous for informal sector entrepreneurs and daily wagers who lost their jobs due to pandemic-induced lockdown. The challenge with NFSA is that all the beneficiaries are based on the 2011 census but the number of food-insecure people has increased already and is uncovered.

In 2021, the Centre allowed further allocation of extra foodgrain to NFSA beneficiaries under the PMGKY Phase 4 till November 2021. The government will provide free of cost 5 kg foodgrains per person per month to a maximum of 81 crore beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act 2013 Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Households including those people covered under Direct Benefit Transfer.

The government will be spending an expenditure of almost INR 2.60 lakh Cr in PMGKAY Phase 1 to 5. The PMGKAY Phase 5 will require an estimated additional food subsidy of INR 53,345 Cr. A total of 600 LMT food grains has been allocated to different states and union territories under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (Phase 1 to 4) which is equivalent to approx INR 2.07 Lakh cr in food subsidy. The Phase 4 distribution is currently going on and according to the reports, almost 93.8% of food grains have been lifted from different states & union territories.

On November 5, 2021, the centre announced that the scheme will end from November 30. As per Sudhanshu Pandey, Food & Public Distribution Secretary, the economy is reviving and the open market sales scheme disposal is being exceptionally great because of consumer-friendly and good OMSS policy in 2021; hence, there will be no requirement to extend the scheme. After the announcement made by the cabinet, Mr Pandey told that overall evaluation of the situation by the government will help in making a decision. It’s an important measure to assist the population, support people during the recovery.

Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

Families below the Poverty line can apply under the Priority Households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana categories as they are eligible for the scheme.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana families are recognized by the State or Union Territories according to the given criteria by the Central government and the same with Priority Households are identified by State Government or Union Territory according to their criteria.

A widow, severely ill person, 60-year-old or more, all under-developed tribal societies households can apply for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

Marginal farmers, landless agriculture labourers, craftsmen/ rural artisans like potters, weavers, carpenters, tanners, blacksmiths, sum dwellers, and the person working in informal sector like rickshaw pullers, coolies, porters, rag pickers, fruit and flower sellers and other similar categories in both rural and urban areas. All BPL families with HIV positive persons can also apply for PMGKAY.

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About the Author

  Ankita Rawat is doing graduation in BA(JMC) from JIMS Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.