Govt to provide free food grains to poor in May, June, spend Rs 26,000 cr

5 kg per person per month to be provided to nearly 800 mn beneficiaries free of cost, says govt

The government will provide free food grains to the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana in May and June, officials said on Friday. The development comes at a time when localised lockdowns are being imposed in most parts of the country to curb the recent surge in coronavirus infections.

Officials said 5 kg free food grains per person per month would be given to around 800 million people for the two months.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to the poor, the government has decided to provide free food grains to about 800 million beneficiaries as was