Ration Card Holders to Get Free 5 kg Rice and 1 kg Pulses Under PMGKP; Know How

To protect the public from the threat of deadly coronavirus, the government has extended the lockdown period till 3rd May so that people stay at home and do not get infected by the virus. In this pandemic situation, the government launched Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package with the aim to help people. Under this scheme, five kilograms of rice per person will be given free. 

About Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package 

On 26th March 2020, Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman announced a scheme of 1.70 lakh crore named as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to ensure that weaker sections of the society continue to get the basis amenities and do not get impacted during the lock down period due to COVID 19. 

Progress so far of PMGKP 

• Financial assistance of Rs29,352 crore was received by more than 32 crore poor people under PMGKP.

• Free ration of food grains was distributed to 5.29 Crore beneficiaries.

• Free Ujjwala cylinders are delivered to 97.8 Lakh people.

• 47crore farmers got their first instalment of PM-KISAN : Rs14,946 crore.

• Rs 9930 crore funded  to 19.86 crore to Women Jan Dhan account holders.

• About 2.82 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons got  Rs 1400 crore.

• About 2.17 crore Building & Construction workers received financial support amounting to Rs 3071 crore.

Ration card holders will get 5 kg free rice per person 

Rice will be distributed to the 5.93 lakh ration card holders in the district from Wednesday, i.e April 15. Till 26th April, all the card holders under the public distribution system will get this benefit for 3 months. This assistance has nothing to do with the normal ration received every month. 

For next three months 5 kg foodgrains per ration card holder and one kg pulses per household will be given. This is the monthly quota of subsidised foodgrain of 5 kg per person under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). 

According to District Supply Officer Deepak Varshney, all the preparations have been completed to distribute rice to the people, rice has been sent to all quota shops. A total of 25.62 lakh units of rice will be distributed in the district. This includes Household Card and Antyodaya Cardholders. Under this scheme, rice will be distributed between 15th and 26th of every month. 

What to do if supplier refuses to give ration or ask for the price of rice 

If any of the supplier refuse to give ration or ask for the price of rice, you can immediately register a complaint by :- 

• Calling the Emergency Toll Free No. 18001800150 or Covid-19 War Room 1077 and the department. 

• You can also file a complaint on the phone number 0542 2221939.