Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

#GS-03 Public Distribution System

For Prelims

PMGKAY

• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) is part of Atmanirbhar Bharat aimed at supplying free food grains to migrants and poor.
• Families which belong to the Below Poverty Line, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme.
• The scheme is created under the National Food Security Act 2013.
• It provides an additional 5 kg grains (wheat or rice) for free, in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain already provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• Ministry of Finance is selected as the nodal ministry for the scheme.
• The Union government on December 23, announced that it would discontinue the PMGKAY from January 1, 2023.

National Food Security Act 2013

• The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 was passed by the Indian Parliament on July 5, 2013.
• According to the Act, up to 75% of the rural population, as well as 50% of the urban population, have been entitled for subsidised foodgrains through the Targeted Public Distribution System.
• NFSA 2013 categorises the eligible citizens into Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH).
• The National Food Security Act of 2013 (NFSA) has been implemented throughout India’s States and UTs.
• The eldest woman of the beneficiary household who is18 years or above is considered ‘Head of Family’ for the purpose of issuing ration cards.
• NFSA marks a paradigm shift in food security schemes by changing from a welfare approach to a rights based approach.

Source “‘Withdrawing PMGKAY a regressive step, it cuts the foodgrain entitlement by half’”