Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana: Food Security and Pandemic : Daily Current Affairs

Relevance: GS-3: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.

Key phrases: PMGKY, food security, DBT, Wages, covid-19, foodgrain, relief measure

Why in News?

In the wake of surging COVID cases, the Department of Food and Public Distribution is continuously monitoring lifting and distribution of foodgrains. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana scheme was announced only for a period of three months of April, May and June 2020 under Phase-I. Later, it was extended under different phases.

What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana?

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana / Package is a comprehensive relief package of Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus.
This was announced in March 2020, to reach out to the poorest of the poor, with food and money in hands, so that they do not face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs.

Objective of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY):

Its primary objective is to provide free food grains to the eligible beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
The PMGKY was initially launched to bring back black money from tax evaders by offering them protection from government prosecution.
Under the PM garib kalyan yojana scheme, the govt. opened a window for tax evaders to disclose unaccounted income with a 49.9% tax rate.
The plan was to use the deposited amount for eliminating income inequality in the country.
With the scheme extension in 2020, the govt. announced relief packages during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the extension was to prevent employment disruption of low wage earning employees and support small establishments (with up to 100 employees).
Through several schemes and packages under the PMGKY, the govt. has helped poor citizens continue their daily lives despite their inability to work.

What Are the Benefits of PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)?

PMGKY benefits are classified into two parts. These are -

Food Security:

The Government announced that 80 crore people will receive 5kg of wheat or rice and 1kg of preferred pulses every month till November 2020. This benefit is available under PM Garib Ann Yojana, a part of PM Garib Kalyan Yojana. The Government provides this benefit with an addition to 5 kg of rice or wheat that those individuals receive every month.

Direct Transfer Benefit (DBT):

Increased Daily Wage: Workers under MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment) can now get an additional ₹20 (wage increased from ₹182 to ₹ 202) for 100 days which results in an increase of ₹2000. This increased wage will benefit 5 crore families.
Credit Facility for Women: Women Self-Help Groups were previously eligible for a loan of ₹10 lakh under the Deen Dayal Yojana. Now, nearly 63 lakh can avail collateral loans of ₹20 lakh under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
Benefits for Jan Dhan Women Account Holders: 20 crore women account holders of Jan Dhan Yojana can receive ex-gratia of ₹500 per month (from the following three months of launch date).
Additional Payment to Farmers: The Government offers ₹2000 additionally as a front-load under ongoing PM Kisan Nidhi Yojana. This payment in the first week of April 2020 benefitted 8.7 crore families.
PF Benefit: The Government will pay 24% of monthly wages into the PF account contribution of both employer and employee. This decision benefitted small establishments with less than 100 employees where a majority of wage earners receive salaries below ₹15000 per month.
Advantages for Poor Senior, Poor Disabled, and Poor Widows: Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, the Government will pay ₹1000 of ex-gratia to 3 crores poor senior, poor disabled, and poor widows for over 3 months.
Free LPG Cylinders: Over 8 crore families belonging to the BPL category and have LPG connection under the Ujjawala scheme will get gas cylinders free of cost for 3 successive months.
Construction Workers: Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 3.5 crores registered construction and building workers will benefit from the allotted welfare fund of ₹31000 crores. The Central Government has instructed the State Government to judicially utilise the fund and protect construction workers against economic disruptions.
District Mineral Fund: The Central Government has instructed State Governments to use district mineral funds for screening, testing etc., to fight against Covid-19.

Source: News On Air

Mains Question:

Q. In the wake of covid 19, the govt of India had announced the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for poor. Discuss how it helps poorer to fight the battle against Corona Virus? Critically examine.