The right to food security is one of the most fundamental rights of everyone in the world. India has tackled innumerable issues but the underprivileged sections of society still continue to face the issues of food security.

To tackle this issue, the government of India has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) scheme as a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat. This sarkari yojana was implemented to support migrants and the poor supplying free food grains and offering subsidised rations to around 81.35 crore beneficiaries. Let’s understand the prime minister's scheme in detail.

What Is The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?

The Department of Food and Public Distribution introduced the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) on March 26 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This welfare scheme helps approximately 81.35 crore beneficiaries which is almost 56.8% of the population in India.

The scheme aims to provide food to the migrants and the poor citizens of India through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The provision of free food grains for the next five years was started on 1st January 2024. It also aims to remove the financial burden on the poor. This is a long-term commitment and vision of the government to address the National Food and Nutrition Security.

In FY 2020-21 and 2021-22, More than 75 crore beneficiaries received food grains every month during the implementation of PMGKAY.

Features Of The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

The PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana has various key features such as:

• Distribution of Free Food Grains: The distribution of free food grains to the people is the primary feature of the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Every member of eligible households is given an additional 5 kg of food grains (rice or wheat) per month under this program, on top of the regular benefits granted by the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This makes it possible for the most disadvantaged groups in society to live a healthy life.

• Targeted Beneficiaries: Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families and Priority Households (PHH) make up the majority of the 80 crore beneficiaries that the PMGKAY scheme covers throughout India. These groups represent the economically vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society, guaranteeing that the program effectively serves the most disadvantaged.

• Coverage: The PMGKAY scheme serves as a rural and urban family-friendly extension of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The program benefits both migrant workers and the urban poor; migrant workers who may have lost their jobs or experienced economic losses will benefit most from it.

• No Cost: One special aspect of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is that it offers these food grains to people at no cost at all, relieving them of the financial burden. This is essential to guarantee that food is accessible to even the most impoverished households without worrying about money.

• Direct Distribution Through Public Distribution System (PDS): The Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana delivers food grains using the infrastructure of the Public Distribution System (PDS). With its wide distribution throughout both rural and urban areas, the PDS network makes sure that food grains are received by as many people as possible.

• Extended Timeline: The PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was first introduced as a temporary relief effort during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has since been extended several times in recognition of the pandemic's long-lasting effects on the economy. Millions of people have had their food security guaranteed by this during unstable economic times.

What Are The Major Benefits Of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?

Here are the key benefits offered under the Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana:

Benefits	Description
Free food grains to the vulnerable sections of the society	5 kg rice/wheat per person is provided to the beneficiaries
Adequate supply of food	Prevents hunger by providing food grains to those hit by job losses and economic difficulties during the crisis.
Reduces financial burden	Provides access to essential and enriching food grains and reduces the financial burden of innumerable families
Migrant workers	Special focus on migrant workers
Nutritional support	Basic nutrition is provided to all the families registered under the scheme.

What Is The Eligibility Criteria For Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?

The eligibility criteria to avail the benefits of the PMGKAY are:

• Families belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH).

• Widows, terminally ill, disabled persons, or senior citizens are the heads of households with no societal support.

• All tribal households.

• Below Poverty Line (BPL) households with HIV-positive persons.

• Landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen, slum dwellers, and daily earners in the informal sector in both rural and urban areas.

The One Nation One Ration Card Scheme allows eligible ration cardholders or beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, to access their food benefits from anywhere across India.

How To Apply For Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?

The application process for Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is conducted offline only. One can apply for the scheme by following the steps mentioned below:

• Visit the nearest Fair Price Shop.

• Carry a ration card.

• Beneficiaries can provide either their ration card number or Aadhaar number at any Fair Price Shop across the country.

• Beneficiaries can authenticate their identity using Aadhaar through fingerprint or iris-based identification.

Documents Required For The Application Process

The essential documents required to apply for the Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana are listed below.

• Ration card

• Aadhaar card

Current Progress Of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

• Extension: Due to the prolonged economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income households, the PMGKAY scheme has undergone multiple phases of extension since its launch in March 2020, during the early stages of the pandemic. The program has received praise for helping with food shortages during one of the most critical times in recent Indian history.

For example, the government extended the program until November 2021 in July 2021, and then again in 2022 and early 2023. Given that many households have not yet fully recovered from the economic disruptions brought on by the pandemic, these extensions demonstrate the need for ongoing support.

• Distribution of Food Grains: Approximately 80 crore people have benefited nationwide and have received more than 1,000 lakh metric tons of food grains from Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana as of the most recent data. This covers both rice and wheat, which were given on a monthly basis in addition to the NFSA entitlements that were already in place via India's vast Public Distribution System (PDS), the program runs seamlessly, guaranteeing that even the most remote

• Migrated Workers: One of the scheme's most noteworthy achievements has been its inclusion of migrant workers, who were among the most severely impacted by the pandemic. PMGKAY scheme made sure that workers who were forced to leave metropolitan areas due to lockdowns could still obtain food grains in their home states. In this sense, the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) program was essential, as it enabled migrants to obtain food grains from any PDS site, no matter where they were.

• Financial Allocation: With over INR 3.4 lakh crore set aside for the purchase and distribution of food grains under PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the government has made considerable financial commitments to the program. This shows the government's dedication to guaranteeing food

Challenges Faced By The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

The Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana continues to face a variety of challenges such as:

• Supply Chain Disruptions: Disruptions in the supply chain affect the timely availability and distribution of food grains.

• State-Level Coordination: The PMGKAY scheme required strong coordination between the central and state governments, which varied across states, leading to uneven implementation.

• Storage and Warehousing Problems: Some states faced issues with inadequate storage facilities, leading to wastage or spoilage of food grains.

• Corruption and Leakage: Reports of corruption, diversion of food grains, and leakages in the public distribution system hindered the efficient execution of the scheme.

• Awareness and Outreach: A lack of awareness in some areas led to eligible beneficiaries missing out on the benefits.

Conclusion

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a commendable initiative launched by the government of India that ensures that every citizen of India, especially those from the vulnerable sections of the country receives the essential and enriching food nutrients for their holistic personal growth and development.

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For more information on the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, visit the official DFPD website. For any grievances or queries, call toll free number 14445 or 1967.