In the first 10 days, grains have reached 2.03 crore of 80 crore beneficiaries: Food MinistryOut of the 40 lakh tonnes of free food grain promised under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for May, one lakh tonnes have been distributed so far, Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said on Monday. In the first 10 days, PMGKAY grains have reached 2.03 crore of the 80 crore beneficiaries, with 13 States and union territories having started distribution, according to the Ministry data provided in a virtual press briefing. The progress is on expected lines, given the eight-month experience of implementing the PMGKAY during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020, said Food Ministry Joint Secretary S. Jagannathan. He added that 34 States had already begun lifting food grains from the Food Corporation of India’s stock, and 15.5 lakh tonnes had been lifted so far. The Centre was also selling its food grain stock at a discounted rate to NGOs and to State governments for those with State ration cards, he said.

Source: The Hindu May 10, 2021 17:57 UTC