COVID-19: Centre to provide 5 kg free food grains to 80 crore people in May, June

The Central Government on Friday announced a relief package of Rs 26,000 crore in the wake of fears that the second wave of COVID-19 will affect the working of daily wage laborers and other lower class workers. 

With this relief amount, under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, five-five kilograms of free grain will be distributed among the poor in May-June.

Under this scheme, free ration was distributed from April to November last year. According to the latest decision, about 80 crore people under the National Food Security Act will get its benefit.

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The news also includes this statement of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in which she has said that due to Corona, the disinvestment program will not be affected. She also reiterated that nationwide lockdown will not be imposed this time.

At the same time, industry organizations have said that if such a situation occurs, they will have to forcefully cut production by 25 percent.

The country's Home Minister Amit Shah has welcomed the Prime Minister's decision. He wrote on the social media site Twitter, "In view of the increasing impact of Corona, with the help of ₹ 26,000 crores, I congratulate the PM on the decision of giving 5 kg of food grains for two months under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

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With this, about 80 crores of the country People will get benefit. Modi government is standing with the countrymen every step in this disaster."

Last year too, the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was started for three months. The government had announced to give free ration to the people in April, May and June 2020. 

Later this plan was extended by five months i.e. November. About 81 crore people of the country had benefited from it.

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In this expansion of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the government spent more than Rs 90,000 crore last year. If the expenses of the last 3 months are added to it, then it becomes about one and a half lakh crore rupees. 

Last year, the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was launched a few days after the nationwide lockdown started. Under this scheme, about 81 crore people of the country were announced to give free ration in April, May and June.

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