Lockdown: FCI supplies 3.51 lakh tonnes of PDS food grains in North East Region
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has supplied about 3.51 lakh tonnes of food grains to the poor through ration shops in the northeast region during the lockdown. In this context, FCI said in a statement that out of 3.51 lakh tonnes of food grains, 1.74 lakh tonnes has been given under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Yojana (PMJAY) and the rest under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
People are benefiting from these government schemes
The central government is giving five kg of food grains and one kg of pulses per household free of cost to each beneficiary for three months under PMGAY in view of the lockdown.
Under the NFSA, 81 million PDS beneficiaries are given five kilograms of food grains per person at a subsidized rate.Special focus on North Eastern states In the case, the Food Ministry said that, “Since the nationwide lockdown has been announced, FCI has been paying special attention to the states of the North East.”
Due to difficult geographical conditions and limited rail access this area is quite challenging from the logistics supply perspective. Also, the statement said, “FCI is constantly trying to ensure uninterrupted supply of rice and wheat to these states in view of excessive dependence on PDS in the North Eastern Region”.
These states were given so much food
During this period, about 2.16 lakh tonnes were given to Assam, 38,000 tonnes to Meghalaya, 33,000 tonnes to Tripura, 18,000 tonnes to Manipur, 17,000 tonnes to Arunachal Pradesh, 14,000 tonnes to Mizoram and 14,000 tonnes to Nagaland.
