RANCHI: The Jharkhand government will get 6.59 lakh metric tonnes of rice and wheat worth Rs 2,483.41 crore from the Centre for free distribution among poor between July and November this year following further extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) scheme in the country last month in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, officials of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Jharkhand, said on Tuesday.
S.K. Saheb, general manager of FCI’s regional office in the state, said, “Of the total allotment of approximately 6.59 LMT to Jharkhand, rice comprise 3.95 LMT and wheat 2.63 LMT, which is worth Rs 2,483.41 crore. During this pandemic period, the central government, FCI and the Jharkhand government are closely working together to ensure uninterrupted supply of food grains to the vulnerable group.”
Citing the achievements of the FCI since last one year after the pandemic broke, the official said that they have been providing timely foodgrain under PMGKY in addition to the regular National Food Security Act (NFSA) allocation to the state under the public distribution system.
“Between April ’20 and June ’20 when the first phase of PMGKAY was announced, around 3.96 lakh metric tonnes of rice costing around Rs 1,581.96 crore was allocated to state. In the second phase from July ’20 to November ’20, six lakh metric tonnes of rice and wheat were allocated costing around Rs 2,304 crore. Similarly, in PMGKAY III from May-June this year, 1.05 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 1.58 lakh metric tonnes of rice had been allotted for two months worth nearly Rs 995 crore. Allocated foodgrain under PMGKAY I, II and III has already been provided to the state by the FCI within the stipulated time period,” he said.
