PM Garib Kalyan (PMGK) Anna Yojana

PM Garib Kalyan (PMGK) Anna Yojana

News: Since the Scheme’s sixth-phase ending in September 2022, States including Gujarat and Rajasthan argued to further extend PMGK Anna Yojana to curb the post-pandemic Consequences and ensure food security to poor.

About:
• The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a free food grain scheme introduced in March 2020
• Main objective of the scheme was to alleviate Covid distress. The scheme was launched as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat package to supply free food grains to migrants and poor.
• Over the course of 2 years the scheme has been extended across six phases. The latest phase being (April 2022-September 2022).
• PMGKAY beneficiaries get 5kg free ration per person per month in addition to their normal quota of food grains under the National Food Security Act. Under NFSA, highly subsidized food grains are provided to about 75% rural and 50% urban population of the country.

Eligibility:
• Families belonging to the Below Poverty Line - Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme.
• AAY families are to be identified by States/UTs as per the criteria prescribed by the Central Government.
• Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
• All primitive tribal Landless agriculture labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen such as potters, tanners, weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters, slum dwellers, and persons earning their livelihood on daily basis in the informal sector are included under the scheme.

What is Food security?
• Food security, as defined by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.