The Union Cabinet resolved on Friday that more than 80 crore people will henceforth receive free foodgrains under the National Food Security Act as a New Year’s present for the nation’s impoverished (NFSA).
Food and Consumers Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters following a union cabinet meeting that recipients won’t have to pay anything to receive food until December 2023. According to him, the national government will invest over Rs 2 lakh crore in this program each year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the cabinet meeting.
The National Food Security Act and other welfare programs, as well as increased funding for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, are all covered by sufficient food grain inventories in India, according to official statements made last week (PMGKAY).
According to a statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, roughly 159 LMT of wheat will be available on January 1 2023, which is significantly more than the 138 LMT needed to meet the buffer threshold. As of December 12, around 182 LMT of wheat is available in the central pool.
It claimed that the government is well aware of the wheat price situation, constantly monitors it along with other commodities on a weekly basis, and takes remedial action as and when necessary.
