Free ration facility to 30.27 lakh beneficiaries under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna in the State
Food security to all and Fair Average Quality grains to the people must be the primary aim of every welfare state. Many schemes have been started by the state government to achieve this. Foodgrains at subsidized rates are being provided to more than 74 lac people of the state. Since the Corona outbreak, free ration under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna (PMGKAY) is also being provided by the double engine government to 30.27 lakh beneficiaries of the State identified under National Food Security Act-2013 (NFSA).
The State Government is effectively implementing the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in the state. Foodgrains are being provided at subsidized rates to about 74.50 lakh population of total 19,62,465 ration card holders of the state through 120 storage centers and 5096 fair price shops (FPS). Of these ration card holders, 7,48,619 card holders are covered under NFSA, while 12,13,846 card holders are included under other schemes. Under centrally sponsored PMGKAY, 5 kg food grains per person per month is also being provided free of cost to all the eligible 30.27 lakh beneficiaries covered under the NFSA in the state.
With the philanthropist approach of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and aim to provide food security to every person, effective implementation of the NFSA has been ensured in the state. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) have been covered under NFSA. So far, 30.27 lakh populations have been brought under NFSA in the state against the targeted 36.82 lakh population set by the Central Government. The GOI is allocating 16857.470 MT food grains i.e. 9900.613 MT of wheat and 6956.857 MT of rice under NFSA to the state.
All the eligible beneficiaries of NFSA in the state are being benefitted under the PMGKAY also by providing those 5 kg foodgrains per person per month free of cost. Under this scheme, the foodgrains of about Rs 366.50 crore have been allocated by the GOI to the state for the year 2020-21. For the benefit of the poor families this scheme has again been started from May, 2021 upto March, 2022 and now has been extended upto September, 2022. Under this, the GOI has allocated the food grains of about Rs. 435.11 crore to the state for the year 2021-22. A total of 65018.855 MT of rice and Rs. 92526.225 MT wheat has been allocated by GOI free of cost for eleven months (May, 2021 to March, 2022). Further, the Central government has allocated 35464.830 MT Rice and 50468.850 MT Wheat free of cost for six months (till September 2022) to all the beneficiaries of the State.
The poorest of the poor families out of the BPL list have been identified and placed under the AAY and being provided 35 kg of food grains per family per month as per GOI norms consisting of 20 kg wheat at the rate of Rs 2 per kg or 18.800 kg wheat flour at Rs 3.20 per kg and 15 kg rice at Rs 3 per kg. Whereas every beneficiary belonging to PHH is entitled to receive 5 kg of food grains at subsidized rates per person per month, including 3 kg wheat at Rs 2 per kg or 2.800 kg wheat flour at Rs 3.20 per kg and 2 kg rice at Rs 3 per kg.
Under the able leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur priority is being given by the state government to ensure welfare of every section of the society, resulting 12,13, 846 APL families of above poverty line in the state also getting ration at concessional rates. 19.5 kg of food grains per month (14 kg of Wheat flour and 5.500 kg of Rice) being provided to the APL families at subsidized rates i.e. wheat flour at Rs. 9.30 per kg and rice at the rate Rs. 10 per kg.
APL families living in tribal areas of the state are being provided about 35 kg of food grains per family per month at subsidized rates by the state government, including 20 kg Wheat or 18.8 kg Wheat flour and 15 kg Rice.
Allocation of 3608 MT sugar per month is being made under the Public Distribution System (PDS) to all the ration card holders of the state. The scale of distribution is 500 grams per head per month and the retail issue price is Rs 13 per kg for NFSA families, Rs 30 per kg to OTNFSA families and Rs 40 per kg to the OTNFSA tax payers.
To facilitate the consumers for receiving ration from any FPS as per their convenience and choice, firstly Intra-state Ration Card portability was launched on 6th January, 2020 and thereafter on 18th May, 2020 National portability was launched in the state under One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) plan. Under this ration card holders can take ration at subsidized rates from FPS of their choice being operated under PDS in any part of the state. Till now, 24457 transactions have taken place under ONORC.
The effective implementation of these welfare schemes started by the double engine governments at Centre and State are proving boon to the people of the state at large.
Issued by:
Director
Information and public relation
Himachal Pradesh