Ration Card Update: Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) by the Central Government, changes have been made in the quota of wheat for many states. Its effect will be that ration card holders will get less wheat per unit in the month of June than before.
Center Cuts Wheat Quota Under PMGKAY: If you are also a ration card holder then this news is very important for you. The Central Government has increased the quota of rice by reducing the quota of wheat under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. This change has been done in many states and some union territories. With this, ration card holders will get less wheat than before.
No change in quota of 25 states under PMGKAY
In fact, the central government has reduced the quota of wheat to be allocated from May to September under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). After this, wheat will not be given for free distribution to three states Bihar, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh under PMGKAY.
Apart from this, the quota of wheat has been reduced in Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. No change has been made in the quota of the remaining 25 states.
The reduced quota of wheat will be compensated by rice
It was told in the information given by the Center to the states, ‘It has been decided to change the PMKGAY allocation of rice and wheat for all 36 states / union territories for the remaining 5 months from May to September.’ The Ministry of Food and Public Distribution said that the reduced quota of wheat will be compensated by rice.
The main reason is that there is less purchase of wheat.
The reason for the reduced quota for the states is being told due to less procurement of wheat. Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said, ‘Additional allocation of about 55 lakh metric tonnes of rice will be made, the same amount of wheat will be saved.’ The decision was taken after extensive consultations with all the States/UTs in two phases.
Will consider the request of rice under NFSA
Pandey said that this amendment is only for PMGKAY. Discussions are on with the states on the allocation under the National Food Security Act-2013. He also said ‘if some states want to take more rice under NFSA, then we will consider their request’.
What will be the effect?
In Uttarakhand, from June onwards, less wheat and more rice will be given in the state from the reduced quota of wheat under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. 14 lakh ration card holders of the state will get 1 kg wheat instead of 3 kg wheat per unit from June. While rice will be given 4 kg instead of 2 kg.