PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana 2024: The central govt. has extended the scope of PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana 2024 till 31 December 2023. Now only antyodaya anna yojana and priority households will get free of cost food grains till the specified date under this PM-GKAY nutritional support scheme. The entire expenditure of Rs. 2 lakh crore starting from 1 January 2023 to 31 Dec 2023 will be borne by the central government. In the new form, there is no requirement of ration card or ID to avail food items under this PMGKAY scheme.
PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana Phase Wise Progress
Centre extends PMGKAY free ration scheme by 12 months for antyodaya anna yojana and priority households. The scheme was started in April 2020 as the largest food security programme in the world. The food grain under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana Phase 8 would entail an estimated food subsidy of Rs. 2,00,000 crore. The phase wise PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana progress can be checked here:-
- Phase 1: April to June 2020
- Phase 2: July to November 2020
- Phase 3: May to June 2021
- Phase 4: July to Diwali in November 2021
- Phase 5: After Diwali in Nov 2021 to March 2022
- Phase 6: March 2022 to September 2022
- Phase 7: October 2022 to December 2022
- Phase 8: January 2023 to December 2023 (in new form)
Till December 2022, each eligible beneficiary was getting an additional 5 kg free ration per month in addition to normal quota of foodgrains under the NFSA. The scheme has been under implementation since April 2020 as the largest food security programme in the world. Now the scheme is merged with NFSA and only AAY and PHH will get free ration.
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana 2024 – Complete Details
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) is a scheme as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojana to supply free food grains to poor. Around 80 crore people have got 5 kg free wheat/rice per person per month. This was over and above the regular monthly entitlements under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). Now central govt. has further extended the PMGKAY Scheme till December 2023 in accordance with NFSA for AAY / PHH beneficiaries.
Benefits of PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is a food security welfare scheme announced by the Government of India in March 2020 and implemented from April 2020. The program is operated by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The scheme aims to feed the poorest citizens of India by providing grain through the Public Distribution System, to all the priority households (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme). The scale of this welfare scheme makes it the largest food security program in the world.
Who Can Avail Free Food Grains in PM-GKAY
Earlier farmers, women jan dhan account holders, MGNREGA workers, women SHGs, old age / widow / disabled pensioners, private employees, migrant workers and NFSA beneficiaries (AAY / PHH) were eligible in PMGKAY. Now this scheme is only applicable to AAY / PHH beneficiaries.
PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana 2024 with Ration Card / ID Proof
This new free food distribution scheme will work with any RC or ID to increase its coverage. As announced in the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana Package, govt. will provide food to NFSA / PHH beneficiaries. Each person will get 5 Kg rice / wheat per month. The free food distribution scheme will ensure adequate food supply to Antyodaya Anna Yojana and priority households who do not have required ration with them.
Now ration card and other ID would be required to avail PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana benefits. This will enlarge access to food under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana 2024 which is a flagship scheme of Modi government. Ration card and ID proof requirement during free food distribution is an important step forward. So with this step, govt. wants that food items reaches all needy poor people.