India / Will people get free food grains even after September Government will decide this month after seeing the stock

New Delhi : After the corona infection in the country, free food grains were announced to the beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana by the Narendra Modi government at the Center. Later on it also expanded from time to time. Its last date is approaching. However, the government can extend its deadline on extension. The central government will take a final call on extending the scheme till the end of this month after reviewing the buffer stock position and kharif sowing.

According to a report in Economic Times, if the stock is sufficient and the shortfall in kharif sowing is not worrisome, then the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana can be extended further. "A decision will be taken next month," the official said. The buffer stock position and Kharif will be examined before taking a final decision.

Let us tell you that under this scheme, 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg whole gram are given free of cost per person per month. This is in addition to the subsidized ration already provided under the National Food Security Act. The scheme was extended for six months in March till September this year.

According to a report, the Food Corporation of India should have 12.3 million tonnes of rice and 23.5 million tonnes of wheat in the country by October 1. As of August 1, the government had 28 million tonnes of rice and 26.7 million tonnes of wheat in the central pool. Wheat procurement ends by May while paddy procurement begins in October.

Paddy sowing has come down by about 6% to 367.55 lakh hectares as compared to last year due to less rainfall. In such a case, any allotment will have to be made from the existing stock only. The government is concerned about the shortfall in the buffer stock. Experts say that the economy is returning to normal. In such a situation, there is no point in continuing the emergency relief measures further.

Bank of Baroda Chief Economist Madan Sabnavis warned of an adverse impact on prices, saying, "In my view there is no need for expansion as the economy has returned to normalcy." "The stock of wheat is less. If we give rice then we will suffer the consequences of its shortage, as this year the production will be less," he said.

Let us tell you that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was started in March 2020 after the nationwide lockdown following the outbreak of Kovid-19. If the scheme is extended further, the subsidy bill could increase by about Rs 90,000 crore.