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Foodgrain offtake by States rises sharply
News:
- States and Union Territories in the country to draw more than double the quantity of rice for distribution during April to June this year.
- Relief measures being implemented in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have paved the way for states to do so.
More in the news:
- The total amount of rice lifted by the States and Union Territories from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was 90.71 lakh tonnes (in 3 months).
- Central government had announced that Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cardholders would receive free additional entitlement of 5 kg per person.
- This was in addition to their entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
For Others:
- The Centre came up with a scheme for providing wheat and rice to ration cardholders not covered under the NFSA or non-priority household (NPHH) cardholders.
- This has been used by Tamil Nadu to provide additional entitlement of rice to about 85.99 lakh such cardholders.
For Migrant workers:
- For the migrant labourers who were not covered under the NFSA or any scheme of the States, the Union government announced one more scheme.
- Workers can avail free food grains at 5 kg per person per month for May and June.
About Food Corporation of India (FCI):
- The Food Corporation of India was setup under the Food Corporation's Act 1964.
- FCI's objectives of the Food Policy:
(1) Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers.
(2) Distribution of foodgrains throughout the country for public distribution system.
(3) Maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of foodgrains to ensure National Food Security.