Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Nimuben Bambhaniya on Wednesday informed that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), the flagship scheme of the Central government, has benefitted nearly 14 crore people in Gujarat over the last four years.
She provided this information while responding to a question from Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani.
According to the minister, 3.45 crore people in Gujarat benefitted under PMGKAY in the financial year (FY) 2021-22, followed by 3.44 crore in FY2022- 23, 3.52 crore in FY2023- 24, and 3.68 crore in FY2024- 25, as of February 28, 2025.
The Central government has reimbursed food subsidies amounting to Rs 1,329 crore to Gujarat over the last three years since FY2021- 22.
Furthermore, Rs 694 crore has been released to Gujarat as assistance to state agencies for intra-state movement and handling of food grains, as well as for fair price shop dealers’ margins under PMGKAY over the past three years.
Nationally, the Centre has allocated Rs 9,69,614.09 crore for PMGKAY in the last four years. Out of this, Rs 67,53,77.7 crore has been released to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Rs 2,94,236.39 crore to states participating in the Decentralised Procurement (DCP).
Nathwani sought details regarding the number of beneficiaries under PMGKAY and the funds allocated for the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) over the past three years. In response, Minister Bambhaniya explained that PMGKAY aims to cover up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, based on Census 2011 data, targeting 81.35 crore people.
Currently, approximately 80.56 crore beneficiaries are covered under the Act.
The minister also clarified that food grains are provided free of cost by the FCI to states and union territories (UTs) under the NFSA, with the food subsidy being released directly to the FCI. For states under the DCP, the subsidy is disbursed directly to the state governments, which procure and distribute food grains to eligible households.
Additionally, the Central government offers financial assistance to states and UTs for intra-state food grain movement and fair price shop dealers’ margins under the NFSA.
Minister Bambhaniya further noted that the Ministry of Finance allocates funds scheme-wise as a whole, without any specific state-wise allocation for food subsidies.
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