The Pradhanmantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, which provides free food grains, was extended for another six months by the Narendra Modi government on Saturday. Prime Minister Modi presided over a cabinet meeting that made the decision. The scheme was extended for another four months by the union cabinet in November of last year. More than 80 crore people who are covered under the National Food Security Act, including those covered under direct benefit transfer.
In addition to food, the government offers each health professional fighting the coronavirus pandemic with a Rs 50 lakh insurance policy. A total of 20 crore women with Jan Dhan accounts would get a monthly payment of 500 rupees. The government also announced a one-thousand-rupee ex-gratia to three crore poor elderly citizens, widows, and disabled people. “The food grain under Phase V would entail an estimated food subsidy of 53,344.52 crore,” the ministry said. According to the government, the five phases have cost the national exchequer a total of 2.60 lakh crore.
