Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has named its new integrated food security scheme under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 as ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)’.
News Summary:
- It provides free foodgrains to Antodaya Ann Yojna (AAY) and Primary Household (PHH) beneficiaries.
- It will strengthen provisions of NFSA, 2013 in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of foodgrains for poor.
- 2 subsidy schemes subsumed –
- Food Subsidy to FCI: It is in form of consumer subsidy (Difference between Economic cost incurred by FCI and realized Central Issue Price) and buffer subsidy (Cost of holding and maintaining buffer stock).
- Food Subsidy for decentralized procurement states dealing with procurement, allocation and delivery of free foodgrains to states under NFSA.
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013:
- Objective –
- To provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach
- To ensure access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.
- Coverage – Rural (75%) and Urban (50%) population under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
- Eligibility –
- Priority Households to be covered under TPDS as per guidelines by the State government.
- Households covered under existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
- Important Provisions –
- 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
- The existing AAY household will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month.
- Meal and maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after the child birth.
- Meals for children upto 14 years of age.
- Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.
- Setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms at the district and state level.
Reference: Indian Express
