14.37 lakh MT of free food grains allocated to Telangana in two years: Centre

In a written reply to Lok Sabha, she said 6.71 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of free food-grains have been allocated to Telangana under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in 2021. Last year, 7.66 MT have been allocated to the state free of cost under PMGKAY.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the government of India has made an allocation of foodgrains at 5 kg per person per month free of cost for around 80 crore beneficiaries of all the 36 States/UTs covered under NFSA (Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) & Priority Households (PHH)) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for a period of 8 months from April -November 2020 and May -November 2021.

During 2020, about 322 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) of food-grains and in 2021, about 278 LMT foodgrains have been allocated free of cost under PMGKAY to approximately 80 Crore NFSA beneficiaries.

Targeted Public Distribution System under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 is operated under the joint responsibility of Central and State/UT Governments.

It is the responsibility of the State/UT Governments to identify eligible households/beneficiaries covered under NFSA namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority households (PHH) as per criteria evolved by the concerned State/UT Government.

Issuance of their ration cards and distribution of foodgrains to them as per their entitlement through fair price shops is also the responsibility of the respective State/UT Govt.

A quantity of 11833.00 MT under PMGKAY-I, a quantity of 26627.21 MT under PMGKAY-II and a quantity of 6751.45 MTs under PMGKAY-III are left undistributed in regard to Telangana. Distribution under PMGKAY-IV (July-November, 2021) is not yet over.