Centre names new integrated food security scheme launched from 1 January 2023 as “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY)”

The Cabinet led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had approved a new integrated food security scheme for providing free foodgrains to Antodaya Ann Yojna (AAY) & Primary Household (PHH) beneficiaries, to be rolled out from 1st January 2023. The new scheme has been named Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY).  Implementation of the new scheme has started from 1st January 2023, benefitting more than 80 crores of poor and poorest of poor people.

Keeping in view the welfare of the beneficiaries and in order to maintain uniformity across the States, free foodgrains will be provided under PMGKAY for the year 2023 to all PHH and AAY beneficiaries, as per entitlement under NFSA. The integrated scheme will strengthen the provisions of NFSA, 2013 in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of foodgrains for the poor.

For the effective and uniform implementation of NFSA 2013, PMGKAY will subsume the two subsidy schemes of the Department of Food & Public Distribution (a) Food Subsidy to FCI (b) Food Subsidy for decentralized procurement states dealing with procurement, allocation and delivery of free foodgrains to the states under NFSA.

Necessary steps have already been taken for smooth implementation of the PMGKAY in the field, i.e. necessary notification has been issued for making the price of foodgrains zero for AAY and PHH beneficiaries, resolution of technical issues at Fair Price Shops (FPS), advisory related to margin to the Fair Price Shop Dealers, zero prices in the print receipts given to beneficiaries etc.

Officers of the Department of Food & Public Distribution and FCI are regularly interacting with State Government officers for the smooth rollout of the new schemes in the field.

The Central Government will spend more than Rs 2 lakh crore in 2023 as food subsidies under NFSA and other welfare schemes, to remove the financial burden of the poor and the poorest of the poor.

Disclaimer: This is an official press release by PIB.