Rs 17,793 cr released under PM-KISAN helped 8.89 cr farmer families amid lockdown: MoA

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Tuesday in a statement said that under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme during coronavirus lockdown period imposed on March 24 till date, about 8.89 crore farmer families have been benefited. statement added that so far an amount of Rs 17,793 crores has been released so far. 

PMGKY to benefit around 19.50 crore households

In order to provide food security during prevailing situation due to COVID-19 pandemic, Government has decided to distribute pulses to eligible households under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PM-GKY). statement said, over 1.07 lakh metric tonnes pulses have so far been issued to States and Union Territories. It said that  distribution of pulses under PMGKY is to benefit around 19.50 crore household spread across 36 States and Union territories.

Under PMGKY, States/UTs namely Andaman and Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu, Goa, Gujarat have commenced distribution of pulses to beneficiaries. Or states like Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi have received partial stock and will commence distribution to beneficiaries in a phased manner as per ir plan.

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According to official data, government has a total of 58.49 million tonnes of foodgrains in FCI godowns. Out of this, rice is 30.97 million tonnes and wheat 27.52 million tonnes. foodgrains stock is much higher than required rm of maintaining a reserve of about 21 million tonnes as on April 1.

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Under National Food Security Act (NFSA), government is supplying 5 kg of foodgrains per month to over 80 crore people at a highly subsidised price of Rs 2-3 per kg. That apart, Centre has decided to distribute 5 kg of foodgrains per person free of cost for next three months to provide relief to poor people during ongoing lockdown period.

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total number of Coronavirus positive cases in India on Monday rose to 17,656, said Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Out of se, 14,255 patients are active cases and 2,842 cases have been cured or discharged and migrated. COVID-19 toll w stands at 559.

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(with PTI inputs)