Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

About Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

• It was launched by the Indian government in April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It is designed to provide financial assistance to economically weaker sections affected by the pandemic.
• The scheme encompasses the distribution of 5 kg of free food grains each month, along with cash transfers to women and elderly individuals.
• It was introduced as part of the broader Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, aiming to offer relief to those adversely affected by the pandemic, especially the poor and marginalised.
• As per the scheme, the government offers 5 kg of free food grains each month in addition to the subsidised ration given to families covered by the Public Distribution System under the National Food Security Act. 
• Eligibility Criteria: The benefits of PMGKAY are accessible to families meeting specific eligibility criteria.
  • Families belonging to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme. PHH is to be identified by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations as per criteria evolved by them. AAY families are to be identified by States/UTs as per the criteria prescribed by the Central Government:
  • Households headed by widows, or terminally ill persons, or disabled persons, or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
  • Widows, or terminally ill persons, or disabled persons, or persons aged 60 years or more or single women or single men with no family or societal support or assured means of subsistence.
  • Additionally, all primitive tribal households, landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen such as potters, tanners, slum dwellers, and persons earning their livelihood on a daily basis in the informal sector like porters, coolies, rickshaw pullers, hand cart pullers, and other similar categories in both rural and urban areas are also eligible for the scheme.
  • All the citizens are eligible who belong to Below Poverty Line families.

Q1) What is the National Food Security Act (NFSA)?

The NFSA provides a legal right to persons belonging to “eligible households” to receive food grains at subsidized price– rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grain at Rs 1/kg — under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).The Act legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under TPDS.

Source: Free grain distribution to 81.35 cr poor under PMGKAY scheme extended for 5 years, says I&B minister Thakur