Centre announces to extends free ration scheme by 1 year

In a significant development, the Centre announced the government will provide free-of-cost food grains to the poor under the National Food Security Act. The central government has decided to provide free rations to 81.35 crore poor people under the NFSA for one year.

The destitute, covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), will receive 35 kg of food grains per month. The Centre has described the latest Cabinet decision as a "new year gift for the country's poor". Also, the Centre is set to spend around Rs 2 lakh crore per year on the scheme.

Taking to Twitter, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal said 'the central government will bear 100 per cent of the expenditure of about Rs 2



lakh crore' under the scheme.

Under NFSA, also called the food law, the government currently provides 5 kilograms of food grains per person per month at Rs 2-3 per kg. The families covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) get 35 kg of food grains per month.

Rice is given to poor persons under NFSA at Rs 3 per kg and wheat at Rs 2 per kg.

Briefing reporters about the decision taken by the Union Cabinet, Food Minister Piyush Goyal said the Centre will bear the entire burden of providing free food grains under NFSA.

The beneficiaries will not have to pay a single rupee to get food grains. The Centre will now spend around Rs 2 lakh crore per year on this scheme, the GoI said.