The Centre has extended Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKY) for 5 months from July-November 2021 with further allocation of 198.79 LMT food grains. This is the longest running exercise of distributing free food grains to the people during COVID-19 pandemic time to ensure food security.
Under PMGKAY-IV (July-November 2021), lifting of free food grains has been started by 31 states i.e. Andhra Pradesh, A&N, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, D&N Haveli/Daman & Diu, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal while 15.30 LMT food grains have been lifted up to July 12, 2021.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has already positioned adequate stocks in all states/ UTs for successful implementation of PMGKAY-IV. At present, 583 LMT wheat and 298 LMT rice (total 881 LMT food grains) are available under central pool. Under the PMGKAY-III (from May – June 2021) the Food Corporation of India has supplied 78.26 LMT free food grains to all 36 states/ UTs. The FCI is transporting food grains all across the country to ensure smooth supply to all states/ UT governments.