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New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday did not give any assurance about extending the period of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) after March.
The Center had launched the scheme in March 2020 to provide free food grains to 80 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Its purpose was to ease the hardships of the needy people during the pandemic.
Under this, 5 kg additional food grains are given free of cost per person. This is in addition to the normal foodgrain allocation under NFSA at the rate of Rs 2-3 per kg.
Sitharaman said in a post-Budget press conference, “I have nothing to say other than what was said in the budget.” She was asked whether the PMGKAY would be extended after March 2022.
PMGKAY scheme was launched in 2020-21 for only three months. Later the government increased it to July-November. It was implemented again in May and June 2021 if the Kovid crisis persisted and was extended for five months from July to November, 2021 under the fourth phase. Later the duration of the scheme was extended from December, 2021 to March, 2022.
