India / Free ration to poor under modi government National Food Security Act NFSA

Ration Card: Many schemes are being run by the government for the poor. Keeping in view the interest of the poor in these schemes, the government is also providing free food grains to the poor. Now it has been decided by the government not to extend Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY or Free Ration Scheme) beyond December 2022. On the other hand, till December 2023, the government will provide free food grains to crores of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The effect of this step taken by the Modi government is going to be seen on crores of people.

national food security act

The Government of India has decided to provide free ration for one year to 81.35 crore poor people under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). According to government officials, this step will cost the exchequer about Rs 2 lakh crore. At the same time, this step is economically prudent. Experts said that considering the economic cost of food grains, the additional food subsidy expenditure due to this decision would be around Rs 25,000 crore. In comparison, if PMGKAY was extended for one year, it would have cost the exchequer Rs 1.6-1.7 trillion.

Benefit under NFSA

PMGKAY was launched in 2020 during the Kovid pandemic, under which the Center provided 5 kg of food grains free of cost to people falling under the NFSA quota. Now the government has made the ration free under NFSA itself. This means that from 2020, the benefit given under the special scheme will continue, but now it will be given under NFSA.

free ration

Under NFSA, earlier rice was made available at Rs.3 per kg, wheat at Rs.2, millet at Rs.1 per kg. However, now the government has announced to give it free for one year.