Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to extend the allocation of rice under for ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ (PMGKAY) at least for the next eight months.
Naveen thanked the PM for providing free-of-cost rice under PMGKAY for distribution among NFSA beneficiaries in the State from May 2021 to November 2021. Similar facilities were also provided to the State’s own beneficiaries under its own Food Security Scheme. During this Covid-19 period, not a single person was deprived of food grains.
“Despite fast-paced vaccination being underway in the State, the pandemic situation is still here as positive cases are still being reported. At the same time, people are still struggling to lead a normal life with sustainable means of livelihood as pre-pandemic economic activities are yet to be restored,” Naveen mentioned.
Keeping this in mind, the Government must provide relief to vulnerable people. The government also has adequate food grains with it. “I would request you to kindly consider extension of additional allocation of rice at least for the next eight months under PMGKAY for distribution among the beneficiaries under NFSA till the pandemic situation improves and complete normalcy is restored in the State,” the CM requested.
Notably, on a priority basis, Odisha distributed seven months’ quota of PMGKAY-III food grains to beneficiaries and completed it by November 5, 2021.