The Union Cabinet has approved the distribution of free food grains till December 2023

The government made a significant decision on Friday to distribute free rations to 81.35 crore impoverished people for one year under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

The government presently supplies 5 kilograms of food grains to each person every month under the NFSA, often known as the food legislation, at Rs 2-3 per kg. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families are entitled to receive

• 35 kg of food grains every month.
• Rice costs Rs 3 per kg 
• Wheat costs Rs 2 per kg

Briefing media on the Union Cabinet’s decision, Food Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the Centre will shoulder the full responsibility of supplying free food grains under the NFSA. 

The yearly cost to the government is projected to be Rs 2 lakh crore. Meanwhile, the government has chosen not to prolong the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) free ration plan, which expires on December 31. PMGKAY provides five kilograms of food grains per person per month for free to the 81.35 crores NFSA beneficiaries. This is in addition to the monthly transfer of massively subsidized food grains under the NFSA. According to government authorities, the recent Cabinet decision is a “new year present for the country’s underprivileged,” with over 80 crore people now receiving free food grains through the NFSA. 

The recipients will not have to pay a single rupee to obtain food grains. According to them, the Centre would now spend about Rs 2 lakh crore per year on this initiative.

–An article by Velroy Anthony