The Union’s government has not planned to introduce food grains in the public distribution system (PDS), even for vulnerable groups such as older and disabled recipients.
The clarification comes in the middle of growing calls of groups of civil society and advocates for the government to ensure easier access to food for people with disabilities and seniors.
In the written response to Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the Minister for Consumer, Food and Public Distribution of Pralhad Joshi stated that the current PDS framework that is governed by the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, does not provide for food grains directly to the recipients’ homes.
The Minister stated that the operating obligations-like are lifting, transporting and distributing food grains to the threshold of fair prices under the work of the State Government. While food grains were delivered to the fair price, it was the responsibility of the recipients to collect their demands from these stores, he added.
Feeding the poorest India
Recipients fall into one of the two categories within the NFSA – Antyodaya Anna Yojana (Aay) Households and Priority Households (PHH), as intended for trade union and state instructions. However, the law has no special provisions for the disabled or elderly, and there is currently no proposal to extend the door delivery, the ministry said.
Currently, there are about 81.35 Crore recipients under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which provides free food grains for households Aay and PHH. The scheme has been extended by five years since January 1, 2024. Each Aay household receives 35 kg of food grains per month, while each person in the PHH category receives 5 kg per month.
Annual food subsidies from the government for the distribution of food grains to AAYS, PHH recipients, other social care programs and allocations work around £2,13 trillion, according to the website of the ministry. Assuming that the government of trade unions expects to spend to spend £11.80 trillion in the next five years about food subsidies under PMGKAY to alleviate the financial burden of the poorest India, according to the website of the Ministry.
(Tagstotranslate) PDS doors observance
