Taking a big decision in the first cabinet meeting of his second term in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Saturday (March 26, 2022) that the free ration scheme (launched during the COVID-19 epidemic) will be extended for three more months.
This rationing scheme (going over and above the provisions of the central government) was one of the most attractive achievements of the BJP government in the recent elections. In about 15 crore beneficiaries, this scheme covers more than 60% population of the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also used to mention this scheme in his speeches, reminding people of “Modi ka salt”. However, the opposition opposed this and warned voters that the scheme extended till Holi would end soon after the elections, while Yogi 2.0’s first decision on Saturday rubbished that apprehension outright.
Announcing the expansion of the scheme and calling it an example of BJP’s “double-engine government (in state and Centre), the CM said, “The first decision of the newly formed government in UP is dedicated to 15 crore poor people. The scheme was to end in March 2022, thus the first cabinet meeting of the new government has decided to extend its benefits for three months till June 22. By the way, due to extension of this scheme by three months, there will be an additional burden of about Rs 3,000 crore on the state exchequer.
3.16 crore ration card holders in the state are covered under two schemes. These include PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) and NFSA (National Food Security Act). Giving subsidized ration under NFSA is a continuous process. At the same time, PMGKAY was launched in April 2020 during the COVID lockdown and under this cardholders are entitled to get five kg of wheat and rice and one kg of gram. On Saturday, the Center announced the extension of PMGKAY for another six months. Under NFSA, cardholders get 35 kg of food grains (20 kg wheat and 15 kg rice) per card per month. Since, the beneficiaries of both are almost same, it effectively means that people get ration twice a month.
By the way, just before the elections in December 2021, UP had passed on the benefits. Ration was given (normally) at a subsidized rate of Rs 3 per kg for wheat and Rs 2 per kg for rice, but the Yogi government freed up the entire subsidized ration under the NFSA. Along with this, one liter of refined oil and one kg of salt were also announced per family.