In continuation of the massive exercise of food grain distribution to the poor and migrant labourers amid COVID-19 pandemic, the Yogi Adityanath government will be providing free food grain under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to about 14.71 crore people from Thursday (June 3).
Under the intra-state portability, the beneficiaries and migrants would be eligible to get food grains only from any fair price shop from June 13 to 15.
While issuing directions on the biggest free food grains distribution endeavor, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that no eligible beneficiary should be left out in the distribution of free ration in the state. Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies, Manish Chauhan, said that on the instructions of the chief minister, the distribution of food grains will start from June 3 and will continue till June 15. In May, 7,04,518,140 metric tons of ration was distributed under the PMGKAY to around 14.09 crore beneficiaries, he said.
Under this scheme, 5 kg free ration (3 kg of wheat and 2 kg of rice grain) will be provided. The ration distribution will be done under the supervision of nodal officers amid adherence to Covid safety protocols. In this regard, the ration shops open throughout the day from 6 am to 9 pm and distribution of ration will also be done continuously.
According to the Food and Supplies department, ration distribution will be done through e-POS machines after Aadhaar card authentication. Those who will not be able to get the free ration through Aadhaar identification will be given through mobile OTP verification. Chauhan said the state had around 3.59 crore households having ration cards of Antyodaya and Priority Householders, covering 14.7 crore beneficiaries. For this, it was estimated more than 7.5 lakh metric tons of food grains will be distributed by the department, he said.