Atma Nirbhar Bharat scheme to provide free food grains to migrant labour kicks off

New Delhi, May 16 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Under Atma Nirbhar Bharat package Government of India has decided that food grains will be provided free of cost at the rate of 5 Kg per month for two months i.e. May and June 2020, to about 8 Crore migrant labour who are not covered under NFSA or State scheme PDS cards. The total estimated cost of about Rs. 3500 Crore for implementation of this scheme will be fully borne by Government of India. All India Allocation of food grains under this scheme is 8 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT).

                 Delivery of food grains under this scheme has already started by Food Corporation of India (FCI).  Today 1109 MT rice was issued from Tamil Nadu and 151 MT from Kerala to the respective State Governments for further distribution to the eligible migrant labour. Every arrangement has already been made to deliver food grains under this scheme across the country and sufficient stocks have been positioned in every State and Union Territory (UT) of India. For meeting the requirements in any part of the country, stocks have been positioned in 2122 warehouses spread across the length and breadth of the country, including islands of Andaman and Lakshadweep. Food grain stocks in consuming states/UTs are being regularly replenished through movement of stocks from producing areas by rail, road and sea routes.