In an effort to reduce the struggles of the lesser privileged sections of society during the second wave of the pandemic, the government of India has decided to provide free food grains to the poor people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) in the upcoming months of May and June.
Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Anurag Thakur tweeted:
Under this scheme 80 crore peoples will receive 5 kg food grains per person for the next two months, absolutely free of cost. The Central government will be spending around ₹26,000 crore under this scheme.
Approximately 80 crore Indian citizens are to benefit from the scheme.