Mamata announces free ration in West Bengal till July 2021
Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extendion of the the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) till November-end, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also announced that the her government in the state will provide free ration to beneficiaries till June next year.
She stated that the Centre’s ration policy should be to provide ration to each and every one of the 130 crore population of the country.
I am extending free ration for poor till June 2021: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee pic.twitter.com/voJlqfwUuc
— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2020
The scheme was started to distribute free ration among the poor after the COVID-19 lockdown was announced. The scheme was to end today (June 30). It involves providing additional five kg foodgrain free of cost to 80 crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries, over and above their monthly entitlement. Initially, it was only for three months—April, May, and June.
Several chief ministers of various states and Congress President Sonia Gandhi had written to the PM Modi to extend the scheme.
Only 60% people of my state get ration that is being provided by the Centre. Why there is such discrimination? I would say 130 crore people across the country should get the ration: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee pic.twitter.com/EYq0dI8vn8
— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2020
In a June 22 letter addressed to PM Modi, Sonia Gandhi wrote that nearly three months since the country went into a strict lockdown, millions of people are at risk of slipping into poverty.
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She added that the adverse impact on livelihoods has led to a chronic food insecurity for both, our urban and rural poor. In this situation, food entitlements should be expanded to address the hunger crisis facing some some of the most vulnerable people in the country.
