The 813.5 million beneficiaries of the public distribution system (PDS) across the country will continue to receive five kilogrammes of free ration every month under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana till November this year.

This was announced today June 23 in the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who approved allocation of additional foodgrain for another period of five months — July to November. Earlier this allocation was only till June this year.

This five kgs allocation is over and above the five kgs of food grains per month each beneficiary is entitled to under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).

The additional allocation will ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor due to economic disruption caused by COVID pandemic, said the central government. No poor family will suffer on account of non-availability of food-grains due to disruption in the next five years, read the press statement issued by the cabinet.

As the central government is bearing the entire expenditure towards the scheme without any contribution by states and Union Territories, an additional expenditure of about Rs 32,348.5 million would be required to be met towards transportation and handling by the Centre. Therefore, the total estimated expenditure is estimated to be Rs 672,664.4 million.

Earlier on April 23, the central government announced free food grains to the poor for months of May and June only. The activists of the Right to Food Campaign, a network of organisations and individuals working on food rights, demanded an extension of this scheme beyond the two months. They also pointed out the scheme did not include pulses in the distribution of food grains this year.

Last year’s relief package included five kgs of extra rice or wheat and one kg of extra pulses a month to ration card-holding poor beneficiary households.

Also Read: Centre announces 5 kg free grains a month to the poor for May-June; experts seek extension

Earlier this month on June 12, the Right to Food Campaign, Odisha wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik regarding food and income security for non-ration card families in the state, and inclusion of pulses in the PDS so that nutritional intakes of people are addressed.

Also Read: Include free pulses and oil in PDS, provide work under MGNREGA; food rights activists write to Odisha CM

In the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, corona restrictions and lockdowns made a comeback because of which a large number of poor workers and daily wage labourers lost their livelihoods. This had a direct impact on their food intake.

On May 17, Gaon Connection published a report on how people in rural India were eating less, and many could not afford vegetables and pulses.

Also Read: Rising hunger stares rural India in the face as the second wave of COVID invades villages