A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a 21-day lockdown to prevent the coronavirus spread, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday announced world’s largest food security scheme to benefit 80 crore people across the country.
Briefing media, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that every person coming under this scheme will get 7 kg ration per month for the next three months, including wheat at a cost of Rs 2 per kg and rice at cost of Rs 3 per kg.
“The Government has decided to provide 7 kg per person of foodgrains to 80 crore people under the PDS, which is the world’s largest food security system,” said I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar, detailing the Cabinet decision.
He said PDS wheat provided at Rs 7 per kg earlier is being given at Rs 2 and rice at Rs 3/kg.
Detailing the logistics of supply of wheat, rice and other items to 80 crore people, Javadekar said that all States have been asked to take foodgrains from the Centre in advance for distribution through the PDS and Food Corporation of India (FCI) networks across the country are geared up for this scheme.
Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the Government is supplying 5 kg of foodgrains per month to over 80 crore people at a highly subsidised price, he added.
Javadekar said that all essential commodities supply shops will be open, requesting the public to avoid rush and keep social distancing, showing photos of certain shops methods to make people in line at safe distance.
