Paswan takes stock of food grains distribution schemes, Delhi, WB, Bihar among the laggards

He said that 61% of food grains have been distributed by states in May under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, which provides free 5 kg grains per month for three months to 80 crore poor people covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and one kg of pulses per month for months to families having ration card.

“However states of Delhi, West Bengal, Manipur, Kerala and Bihar have either not started distribution of food grains for May month or it is less than 10%,” Paswan said, while addressing a review meeting with food ministers and food secretaries of various states.

Paswan said that for the month of April more than 90% of food grains have been distributed by almost all the states except Punjab, Sikkim, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand where the distribution for April is less than 75%.

Paswan said that the total pulses requirement for the next three months for the PM-GKAY scheme is 5.87 lakh tonnes.

“Around 4.05 lakh tonnes pulses have been dispatched. States have received 3.02 lakh tonnes pulses and about 1.27 lakh tonnes pulsed have been distributed to the beneficiaries of 21 States and 5 union territories,” he said.

Paswan said that the food ministry has released 8 lakh tonnes of grains and 39,000 tonnes of pulses under recently announced Atma Nirbhar Package which entitles around 8 crore migrant labourers with 5 kg of wheat or rice per month and one kg of chana per month to 1.96 migrant families free of cost for two months till June. Food minister Ram Vilas Paswan, while addressing food ministers and food secretaries of states, urged that states should ensure proper distribution of food grains.

“No one goes hungry. 17 states have lifted the food grains. The distribution of food grains to migrants having no ration cards is expected to complete by June 15,” Paswan said.

The minister said that the government is procuring food grains to replenish its stocks.

“We have procured 31.99 million tonnes of wheat which is 1.9% lower than last year during this period as procurement started late due to Covid-19. However we will be able to achieve the target of 40 million tonnes,” he said.

The rice procurement has reached 46.08 million tonnes in 2019-20, which is 13% more than 40.78 million tonnes procured during 2018-19.

Paswan said a subsidy of Rs 28,847 crore has been issued to the states and union territories from 01 January 2021 till date which is more than double the subsidy of Rs 12,356 crore last year for the same period.

“We are fully decentralization of procurement of food grains,” he said.