Page 622 - ES 2020-21_Volume-1-2 [28-01-21]

Agriculture & Food Management 249

Allocation of Foodgrains

7.47 During the Financial Year 2020-21, allocation of foodgrains has been done through two
channels- under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) scheme. At present NFSA is being implemented in all the 36 States/
UTs and they are receiving monthly allocation of foodgrains under NFSA. During the Financial
Year 2020-21 (upto 18.01.2021), ` 3679.82 crores was released to State Governments as central
assistance to meet the expenditure incurred on intra-State movement of foodgrains and fair price
shop dealers’ margins.

7.48 In pursuance of the pro-poor announcement made under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Package, Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-
GKAY) scheme for additional allocation of foodgrains from the Central Pool at the rate of 5
kg per person per month free of cost for all the beneficiaries covered under Targeted Public
Distribution System (TPDS) (AAY & PHH) including those covered under Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) for a period of 3 months i.e April-June, 2020. Accordingly, about 121 LMT of
foodgrain was allotted to approximately 80.96 crores beneficiaries entailing subsidy outgo of
nearly ` 46061 crores. The PMGKAY scheme was extended for a further period of 5 months i.e.
July – November, 2020. Accordingly, about 201 LMT of foodgrains have been allocated for free
of cost distribution to beneficiaries entailing subsidy outgo of nearly ` 76062.11 Crores.

7.49 Further under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package, Government of India made allocation of
free foodgrain (wheat and rice) at the rate of 5 kg per person per month for two months (May
and June, 2020) to benefit approximately 8 crores migrants/stranded migrants who are not
covered under NFSA or state ration card entailing subsidy of ` 3109 crores approximately. The
period of distribution to migrants for already lifted foodgrains (upto 25.06.2020) was extended till
31st August, 2020. Under ANBP, on an average about 2.74 crore persons per month for the month
of May and June, 2020 were covered. Thus, a total of 5.48 crore person were given around 2 LMT
of rice and 0.74 LMT of wheat with total expenditure of approx Rs. 989.30 crore.

7.50 During the year 2020-21, Government of India has so far (by the end of December, 2020)
allocated 943.53 lakh tons of foodgrains to States/UTs under NFSA and Other Welfare Schemes
etc. as per break up given in Figure 16.

Figure 16: Break up of Allocation under Various Schemes (share in per cent and quantity in lakh tons)

8, 0 13.28 2.79
.85% 1.41% 0.30% NFSA (including
ICDS & MDM)

PMGKAY
Allocation
321.05,
34.03%
AatmaNirbhar
Bharat Scheme
598.41,
63.42% Festival, Natural
calamity, etc.

Other Welfare
schemes
Source: Based on data received from Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD)