The Center had launched the scheme in March 2020 to provide free food grains to over 80 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as part of its effort to ease the hardships of the people during the coronavirus pandemic.
The additional 5 kg of food grains per person per month is in addition to the normal quota provided under NFSA. Under the National Food Security Act, food grains are given to the beneficiaries at the rate of Rs 2-3 per kg.
This scheme has been extended several times and is now valid till March 2022.
The fifth phase is from December 2021 to March 2022. The food ministry had allocated 163 lakh tonnes of food grains to all states/UTs for a distribution period of four months.
“As the distribution of only the second month has started recently, about 19.76 lakh tonnes of food grains have been distributed to the beneficiaries so far as per the reports received from the States/UTs,” a government statement said on Wednesday.
Since the distribution of free food grains under the fifth phase is currently underway, the ministry said, “It is anticipated that the distribution performance of the current phase will also be of the same high level as was achieved in the earlier phases.” ”
The Food Department is continuously monitoring the lifting and distribution of food grains by all the States/UTs on a daily basis, the statement said.
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