Ration Card Latest News: If you are taking advantage of the government’s free ration scheme, then reading this news may shock you. The PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), launched by the Central Government in April 2020, will end on 31 December 2022. On 28 September, it was decided by the Modi cabinet to extend it till 31 December. Under this scheme, 80 crore people are given free food grains at the rate of 5 kg per person. After the completion of the period of the scheme, the facility of free ration will be closed.
Grain should be sold in the open market
There is little hope of the central government taking this scheme forward. This is expected even more because NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand had talked about discontinuing the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). He had said that the government should sell the food grains allocated for the free ration scheme in the open market. He told the media that there is no justification for continuing a scheme like PMGKAY when economic activities are normal.
Increase in the price of wheat in the domestic market
He had said that the 4 million tonnes of rice wheat allocated for the scheme every month can be used to reduce inflation and reduce pressure on the RBI. Let us tell you that the inflation in food grains was 12.08% in October, which came down to 11.55% in November. On the other hand, a rise in the price of wheat is being seen in the domestic market. Experts say that the price will continue to rise till the arrival of the new crop.
The stock came down to 19 million tonnes
Due to the increase in demand and decrease in wheat stock, the price of wheat is continuously increasing. In the domestic market itself, after April-May, the price of wheat increased by up to 50 per cent. The stock of wheat in godowns has come down to 19 million tonnes. In such a situation, there is a possibility that the price will continue to rise in the coming times.
The scheme started in April 2020
Let us tell you that under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the central government provides 5-5 kg of food grains free of cost to 80 crore people every month. This scheme was started by the government during the first lockdown in April 2020. The scheme was extended for six months from March 2022 to September. After this, it was extended for three more months and at present, the government has ordered to provide free ration till 31st December.
