The State Governments have so far lifted more than 105.10 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) under which 88 crore people in the country would be given free ration for three months. For the month of April 36.98 LMT (92.45 %), for the month of May 34.93 LMT (87.33%) and for the month of June 6.99 LMT (17.47) has been distributed.
According to the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs, the Centre is bearing 100 percent financial burden of approximately Rs 46,000 crore under this scheme. "Wheat has been allocated to 6 States/UTs, — Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi and Gujarat and rice has been provided to the remaining States/UTs," it said.
"As regards Pulses, the total requirement for the three months is 5.87 LMT. The Centre is bearing 100% financial burden of approximately Rs 5,000 crore under this scheme. So far, 4.71 LMT Pulses have reached the States/UTs, while 2.67 LMT pulses has been distributed," the Ministry said in a statement.
Officials say that Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal are among the states that have fallen behind in distributing their April quota of free pulses under the Prime Minister’s Garib Kalyan package, even though two months have lapsed since the scheme came into force.
Overall, States have managed to distribute less than half the pulses received by them from the Centre, say officials. West Bengal is among the worst performers. The State had to distribute 14,500 tonnes of free pulses under the Garib Kalyan package in each of the three months, but until the end of May. From April to June, states had to distribute around 1,90,000 tonnes of pulses each month, but in some states, even the April quota has not been distributed, although two months have lapsed.
As per the data of Food Corporation of India, it currently has 269.79 LMT rice and 537.46 LMT wheat. Hence, a total of 807.25 LMT food grain stock is available (excluding the ongoing purchase of wheat and paddy, which have not yet reached the Godown). About 55 LMT food grains is required for a month under National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes.
Besides, a total of 13.01 LMT pulses (Toor-6.07 LMT, Moong-1.62 LMT, Urad-2.42 LMT, Bengal Gram-2.42 LMT and Masur-0.47 LMT) is available in the buffer stock as on June 4, 2020.