New Delhi [India], June 30 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that his government will extend till end of November, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, under which foodgrains are being provided to the poor and needy.
“From July the festival seasons start, Guru Purnima will be celebrated on July 5. Following this, the month of Saawan will start. In this season of festivals, the needs and expenses of all increases. Keeping this in mind, the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana has been extended till Diwali and Chatth Puja, i.e till the end of November,” the Prime Minister said.
“The scheme will provide 80 crore people with free grains, will now be applicable in July, August, September, October and November too. The government, during these five months, will give each family member 5-kilogram wheat or 5 kilogram rice free of cost, apart from this each family will get free one kg of chana (chick peas) too every month,” he added.
The Prime Minister further said that the extension of this scheme will require an additional expense of Rs 90 thousand crore.
“If we add the expenses incurred during the past three months then it totals to around Rs 1.5 lakh crore,” he further said.
The scheme was announced by the Centre as part of the first rescue package during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme ends on June 30.
The scheme, announced for a three month period, covered 80 crore ration cardholders. Each household was provided 5 kg of food grains (rice or wheat) and 1 kg of pulses (only channa) free of cost. Already, 21 states — both BJP-ruled and Opposition-led governments — had appealed to the Centre to extend the scheme for another three months till September.
Earlier in his speech, the Prime Minister had urged citizens to follow all safety guidelines for protection against COVID-19 as the country enters phase two of the Unlock.
PM Modi thanks farmers, taxpayers for enabling govt to help poor during lockdown
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave credit to the farmers and taxpayers for enabling the Centre to provide free foodgrains during the COVID-19 phase to the poor and needy in the country.
“If the government today is able to provide free grains to the poor and needy today then the credit goes to two sections of people. The first are our hardworking farmers, our food providers and the second are the honest taxpayers of the country,” Modi said in his address today.
“You have submitted your taxes honestly, fulfilled your responsibility, that is why today the country’s poor are able to fight off this big problem. Today along with each poor, every farmer, I heartily greet every taxpayer and bow down to them,” he added.
The Prime Minister had said that during the lockdown phase the Centre had made it its priority to ensure that no one goes hungry in the country. He said that the collective efforts of the centre, state government, and civil societies had all been aimed at ensuring that nobody goes to sleep on an empty stomach in the country.
Explaining the steps taken by the Centre to provide help to the people during this phase he said, “With the start of the lockdown the government came up with Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. In the past three months, Rs 31 thousand crore was directly deposited in the Jan-Dhan accounts of 20 crore poor families. Upwards of 18 thousand crore were also deposited in the bank accounts of over 9 crore farmers.”
He added that the whole world had been astonished by India providing more than 80 crore people with three months of rations i.e. 5 kilograms of wheat or rice per month during this phase.
“More than two and a half times of America’s population, 12 times of Britain’s population, and twice the population of European Union was provided free grains by our government during this phase,” Modi said.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is unprecedented scheme: Prakash Javadekar
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said that Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is an unprecedented food security scheme and such kind of a food security scheme is not there in any country of the world.
“In the coming five months up to November, 80 crore people will get 5 kg rice or wheat and 1 kg pulses free of cost. This kind of a food security scheme is not there in any country of the world,” Javadekar told reporters here.
“Prime Minister’s announcement will strengthen the poor people across the country. Earlier, the Prime Minister had announced Rs 1.70 lakh crore for the welfare of the poor under which people have got cash, gas and foodgrains. Now the PM has announced an additional Rs 90,000 crore scheme for people’s food security,” he added.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi while speaking to ANI said, “Prime Minister Modi takes care of everything so that nobody faces any problem. ‘One nation, one ration card’ scheme is a big reform for migrant workers and poor people. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana has been extended by five months.”
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the Prime Minister rightly observed that precautions should be followed as economic activities resume in the country.
“PM Shri @narendramodi rightly said, as we resume our economic activities, we must continue observing all precautions by wearing masks, gamcha, face covers, ensuring social distancing and washing hands for 20 seconds many times a day. #ModiCARES4Poor,” he tweeted.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi announced that his government will extend till the end of November, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, under which foodgrains are being provided to the poor and needy.
“The scheme will provide 80 crore people with free grains, will now be applicable in July, August, September, October and November too. The government, during these five months, will give each family member 5-kilogram wheat or 5-kilogram rice free of cost, apart from this each family will get free one kg of chana (chickpeas) too every month,” he said.
The Prime Minister further said that the extension of this scheme will require an additional expense of Rs 90,000 crore. (ANI)
