Why in news?

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is to provide free food grains to 80 crore ration card holders as part of the Covid-19 relief was coming to an end in the month of November, 2021.

About PMGKAY

• In March 2020, when the government announced the first countrywide lockdown, PMGKAY was part of Centre’s initial Covid-19 relief package.
• Under the scheme 80 crore beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are getting 5 kg wheat or rice every month absolutely free.
• This is not at all linked to the 5kg food grain available at a subsidised rate to the ration card holders.
• This scheme helped in food grains availability, when due to pandemic jobs were lost and livelihoods were destroyed.

Scale of the scheme

• Scheme was initially started for April to June, 2020.Then extended from July to November 2020.
• In this phase 320 lakh tonnes of grains were allotted to beneficiaries.
• During the second wave of the pandemic, scheme was rolled out for May and June 2021. It was again extended for July to November, 2021.
• 278 lakh tonnes was allotted for this period.

Reach of the scheme

• During the first lockdown, only the families having ration card were eligible.
• During May and June 2020, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme, 8 lakh tonnes of food grain was made available to states for distribution to stranded migrants and other without ration cards.
• The 2011 Census data, put the cap of 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries.

Status

• On 24th November 2021 centre decided to continue the scheme for four more months, i.e. till March 2022.
• Centre acknowledged that poor families still need food security support in the middle of a recovering economy.
• Centre also added, economy is getting back on track and the data is showing much better condition.

Debate

A.) For

• Supreme Court judgement, record level of unemployment and widespread hunger among vulnerable sections make a perfect case for not only extension of PMGKAY but also for universalized Public Distribution System (PDS). So that all the needy persons could get assured food supply.
• Pulses and cooking oil should also be added, considering the high prices in open market.

B.) Against

• Economy is reviving and the open market sale system (OMSS) is working good.
• Respective states can buy food grains from open market according to the need of migrant workers and vulnerable sections.

Food stock with FCI

• Despite higher outgo due to PMGKAY, currently food grain stock is at record 616 lakh tonnes with Food Corporation of India (FCI).
• The stock is expected to be 942 lakh tonnes by June 2022 after Rabi season procurement.