80 crore people will get free grains by December, central government made important announcement

The central government on Wednesday said it will provide free food grains to more than 80 crore people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for a period of one year from January 1, 2023. Accordingly, this scheme will remain in force till December this year.

Recently, while addressing a rally in Durg (Chhattisgarh), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the free ration scheme has been extended for the next five years. The opposition Congress party had called this announcement a violation of the election code of conduct. At present, assembly elections are being held in five states.

In an official statement, the Food Ministry said that the Central Government is providing free food grains to the beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) under PMGKAY for a period of one year from January 1, 2023. In December last year, the central government decided to include PMGKAY in the National Food Security Act (NFSA). PMGKAY was launched in 2020 to provide additional food grains free of cost.