The Centre will spend more than Rs 26,000 crore on this initiative that has been taken in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country. In a big relief to the poorer sections of the society amid the devastating second wave of coronavirus pandemic, the Central government on Friday announced that it will provide free food grains under the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana for the months of May and June, 2021.
In a statement released by the Government of India, 5 kilogram free food grains will be provided to around 80 crore beneficiaries in the country.
The Centre will spend more than Rs 26,000 crore on this initiative that has been taken in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country.

The announcement has come as India continues to shatter all ‘records’ on the coronavirus front. The country recorded more than 3.32 lakh new coronavirus cases in a single day on Friday.
With 3,32,730 new coronavirus cases recorded over the past 24 hours, as per the data updated at 8 am this morning, India’s caseload has risen to 1,62,63,695 with 24,28,616 active cases.

The death toll stands at 1,86,920 with the addition of a record 2,263 new fatalities. Active cases now comprise 14.93 per cent of the total infections registered in the country. The national COVID-19 recovery rate has now dropped to 83.92 per cent.

Recoveries have surged to 1,36,48,159, with the case fatality rate being at 1.15 per cent. As per PTI, India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20, one crore on December 19, and 1.50 crore on April 19, 2021.
The central government will be providing free foodgrain to nearly 80 crore people for the next two months (May and June), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday. This will be facilitated through the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana.

According to the plan, the Centre will be providing 5 kg free foodgrain to the beneficiaries. The central government said it will be spending more than Rs 26,000 crore on this.
PM Narendra Modi stressed that it is important for the poor get nutritional support at a time when the country is facing the second wave of Covid-19.


Last year in March, the government announced the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana under which it provided free foodgrain to the poor for about three months (April-June).
Back then the government said the special scheme would benefit nearly 81 crore beneficiaries and they would be provided with an additional quota of free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month, over and above their regular monthly entitlements.