India is currently facing the dark side of the clouds with a high surge of coronavirus cases with each passing day. When in the first wave it was some way possible for the government to handle the situation, it seems government will now have to be on pins and needles in handling the situation to get out of the second disastrous wave of a pandemic the world has seen so far.
When again the situation has come where the daily wagers are moving to their homelands with the news of possible untimely longing lockdowns in the state of Maharashtra and cities like Delhi. Once again to safeguard the poor section of the society the central government is all set to provide the basic needs for life FREE OF COST!
On Friday, the central government made out the commitment that the poor section of the society will now be provided with free food grains of 5 kilograms starting from May to June end. This relief made under Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana PMGKAY will cover around 80 crore beneficiaries costing more than Rs 26,000 crores.
The food packets this time likely to have grains like wheat or rice in higher quantities and no pulses will be included, as comprehended by Food and Public Distribution Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey.
Amid coronavirus onrush, the Centre makes this big announcement on Friday.
Government of India to provide free foodgrains under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana for May & June 2021. 5 kg free food grains to be provided to around 80 crore beneficiaries. Government of India would spend more than Rs 26,000 crore on this initiative: Government of India
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2021
Earlier in June 2020, when the nation has undergone the first Unlock after a nationwide lockdown, the PM went on to say that the free ration provided then under PM-GKAY will be extended up to November later that year. He announced to spend Rs. 90,000 crores on PM-GKAY and if the data of the past three months is added it can sum up to around 1.26 lakh crores. Apart from wheat or rice the food packets even had 1 kilogram of Chana dal monthly for free.
Once again amid the high spike of COVID cases in the nation, the Yojana is re-implemented to cover the poor section of the society.
Earlier Prime Minister Modi also discussed the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ which can ease the job of the migrants and poorer sections of the society to take the benefit of the government schemes relating to the ration. Under this initiative, there will be only one Ration card and that can be used by the person nationwide. Even if some migrants have moved to cities to earn, the family in the village can yet use the card limit in the native.
With the hearings of untimely lockdowns in a state like Maharashtra and a city like Delhi, a huge migrant class has evacuated the places as they say it is better to die with the loved ones than to die alone where there is nothing to earn. It could be seen when Delhi imposed a 6-day lockdown in the city the local bus terminus namely Anand Vihar bus station was overcrowded with the masses of people unfollowing the corona-sensitive behaviors. The same situation was noticed at the Lokmanya Tilak bus terminus in Mumbai.
With a record of 3,32,730 fresh cases in the nation, India’s scoreboard has risen to 1,62,63,695 with 24,28,616 active cases.
Where the COVID cases are not in the mood to die down, it becomes very crucial to stay on the ball and follow all the due protocols to fight collectively against the Chinese virus. The war has just begun and we can conquer it with a will.
[author title=”Shreya Gohel” image=”http://localhost/gc2/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210127_014031.jpg”]Intern, Goa Chronicle[/author]DISCLAIMER: This article reflects author’s view point. Goa Chronicle may or may not subscribe to views of the author
