Home  /  Daily Current Affairs  /  12-01-2023 / PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

Posted on January 12, 2023 by admin1  3904

In Context

  • Recently, the Union government has named its new free foodgrain scheme under the National Food Security Act, 2013, as ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)’.

More about the scheme

  • About:
    • The new integrated food security scheme for providing free food grains to Antodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) & Primary Household (PHH) beneficiaries, is rolled out from 1st January 2023.
    • The integrated scheme is expected to strengthen the provisions of NFSA, 2013 in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of foodgrains for the poor.
  • Free foodgrains for 2023:
    • Keeping in view 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. 
  • Ministry:
    • The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) along with state governments will look out for smooth roll out of the new scheme.

Different than Centre’s Covid-19 package

  • The name of the new scheme is similar to that of the free foodgrain scheme implemented as part of the Centre’s Covid-19 package announced in 2020. 
  • Previous scheme:
    • The difference between the two schemes is that about 81 crore NFSA beneficiaries were entitled to get free of cost 5 kg foodgrain per person in a month over and above their monthly entitlements. 
    • However, they were required to pay the subsidised rate of foodgrains (Rs 3 per kg rice, Rs 2 per kg wheat and Rs 1 per kg coarse grains) to purchase the quantity for which they were entitled–35 kg per Antyoday Anna Yojana Household and 5kg per person to a Priority Household in a month.
  • New Scheme:
    • In the new scheme, the government has done away with the subsided prices and is providing food grains free of cost for a year. 
    • But now the additional quantity, which was available during the Covid pandemic, will not be provided to these beneficiaries. 
    • They will receive as much quantity of foodgrains, for which they are entitled under the NFSA.

What is Food security?

  • It is access to enough food by all people at all times for an active and healthy life. 
  • Three Dimensions:  
    • Food availability,  
    • Food accessibility &  
    • Food affordability.

National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

  • About:
    • It was enacted in July 2013. 
    • It gives legal entitlement to 67% of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas) to receive highly subsidized foodgrains.
      • Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), foodgrains were sold at highly subsidized prices of Rs. 1/-, Rs. 2/- and Rs. 3/- per kg for nutri-cereals, wheat and rice respectively.
  • Ministry:
    • The Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution is the nodal ministry for implementing this Act.
  • Eligibility: 
    • Under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Act, the term “eligible households” comprises two categories
      • Priority household category is entitled to 5 kg per person per month.
      • Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families are entitled to 35 kg per family per month.
  • Issues:
    • Population figures and census:
      • The coverage under the NFSA is still as per the population figures of 2011 census.
      • The Union, in its affidavit, had stated in court that the Act required coverage to be updated as per the latest published census figures. 
        • However, the NFSA coverage cannot be determined as the 2021 census has been postponed indefinitely and no date has been notified.
      • Due to the absence of the latest population figures, over 10 crore people were left outside the food security law’s protective umbrella without even ration cards.

Government’s recent efforts to increase coverage under National Food Security Act (NFSA):

  • One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC):
    • It was rolled out by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in 2019.
    • Aim: 
      • To ensure hassle-free delivery of subsidised food grains to all migratory beneficiaries anywhere in the country through nation-wide portability under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
    • About:
      • It empowers all National Food Security Act (NFSA) migrant beneficiaries to access foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice anywhere in the country by using their same/existing ration card with biometric authentication.
      • A card bearing 10 digit number will be issued to the complaint state’s BPL card holders which will be linked to the Aadhar database.
      • Electronic point of sale:
        • Beneficiaries can get their entitled foodgrains from any electronic point of sale (ePoS) enabled FPS in the country through portability.
    • MERA RATION mobile application: 
      • Another dimension under the ONORC plan is the ‘MERA RATION’ mobile application which has been rolled out to take maximum advantage of the ONORC plan.
      • The mobile app is providing a host of useful real time information to the beneficiaries and is available in 13 languages.
  • e-Shram Portal:
    • About: 
      • The portal was launched on August 26, 2021 under the Ministry of Labour & Employment. 
      • This portal will be a single-point reference to help authorities reach out to and track workers in the informal sector, and offer welfare in times of crisis. 
    • Aim: 
      • with the aim of creating a national database of unorganised workers (NDUW). 
    • e-Shram Card: 
      • Workers will be provided with an e-SHRAM card which will have a 12 digit unique number. 
      • The details of workers will also be shared by the state government and departments.

Source: TH

 
Previous article UN’s study of Dams
Next article India US Trade Policy Forum (TPF)

Other News of the Day

Context The WHO released a statement that Uganda declares an end to the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Sudan ebolavirus. Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) About:  Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. The first cases were recorded in Guinea in December 2013....
Read More

In News The Kerala Tourism department is likely to highlight Beypore ‘Uru’ in the detailed project report (DPR) to be submitted to the Centre for the Swadesh Darshan project. About  Beypore was reportedly included in the project considering its historic importance as a port town, its global fame for the Uru and the beautiful seashore,...
Read More

In News Recently ,NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) system failed to disrupt US flights. About NOTAM  It is a notice containing information essential to personnel concerned with flight operations but not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means.  It states the abnormal status of a component of the National Airspace System...
Read More

In News The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to procure the Very Short Range Air Defence System or VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile system. VSHORAD missile system It is designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), among other weapon systems for the Army and Navy at a total...
Read More

In News The World Bank in its latest “Global Economic Prospects” stated that India’s growth is slowing to 6.6% in FY24. More about the news Forecasts for India: Slowdown: India's economic growth will slow to 6.6% in the next fiscal year from an expected 6.9% in the current year according to the World Bank. It...
Read More

In News Recently, the Union Government has earmarked ?2,600 crore as incentive for banks to promote digital payments. About The outlay has been made to promote payments using RuPay cards and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).  There were various complaints from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and banks as they were worried about the...
Read More

In News Recently, the Union Cabinet gave its approval for the creation of three new multi-state cooperative societies. Major Highlights About: The Government will set-up three new cooperative bodies under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002 viz. National multi-state cooperative export society,  National multi-state cooperative organic society  National multi-state cooperative seed society  These societies...
Read More

In News Every year 12th January is being celebrated as the National Youth Day in mark of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. National Youth Day Origin: In 1984, the Indian Government first declared to celebrate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda as National Youth Day.  Since then the day has been celebrated as National Youth...
Read More