Pralhad Joshi (L) and Mallikarjun Kharge (R)
Credit: PTI Photos
New Delhi: Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday informed Rajya Sabha that the states can include new beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for getting subsidised food grains.
Replying to Rajya Sabha Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge's question, the minister said already states including Karnataka have been told that they can include new beneficiaries by removing ineligible beneficiaries through e-KYC. There is a scope for including 7 crore beneficiaries by removing ineligible beneficiaries, the minister said.
The Minister also pointed out that according to the Niti Aayog Report, for the past 9 years, total 24.82 crore people in the country escaped Multidimensional Poverty.
Under the PMGKAY scheme total 81.35 crore benefited. The Centre has extended the PMGKAY, launched in March 2020, up to December 2028. Under the Scheme, the Centre provides additional 5 kg of free food grains per person per month to over 81.35 crore beneficiaries supplementing the entitlements under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Kharge said a large number of beneficiaries are deprived of the scheme due to not conducting a census. He also suggested the Minister hold review meeting in Karnataka about the scheme.