Following the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana IV (PMGKAY-IV) for five months from July to November 2021 to provide free food grains in view of the Covid-19 pandemic by the Government of India, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) Odisha Region mobilised resources to ensure proper implementation of the extended PMGKAY-IV.
FCI Odisha Region General Manager Nishith Kumar Pradhan told reporters here on Monday said that the scheme would benefit a total of 80 crore people across the country, including 3.24 crore beneficiaries in Odisha. He said lifting of food grains under the scheme has already been stated in Odisha. Approximately, 1.08 lakh MT of wheat and 7.03 lakh MT of rice have been allotted for Odisha, which would be lifted by the OSCSC from the central pool stocks and FCI depots.
Pradhan said the entire cost of the food grains which comes around Rs 3,044 crore for Odisha would be borne by Government of India, which would benefit approximately 3.24 crore beneficiaries in the state. The GOI would spend Rs 39 per kg for rice and Rs 28 per kg for wheat."FCI Odisha has already positioned sufficient food grains in its depots to be lifted by October 31, 2021," he said. Food grains at a scale of 5 kg per person per month would be provided to all the beneficiaries over and above the regular monthly NFSA entitlements.
Under PMGKAY-III, 43,000 MT of wheat and 2.82 lakh MT of rice were allotted for the state of Odisha. The cost of the food grains was about Rs 1,220 crore for Odisha.