Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Tuesday announced the extension of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) till November end, helping over 800 million people to avail 5 kg free foodgrains. The PM said this extension will the exchequer over £9 billion.
He said despite rising Covid-19 cases, India is still in a very stable situation due to timely decisions taken by the government. However, he said ever since Unlock 1.0 started in the country, negligence in personal and social behaviour has been increasing. His address comes as the government prepares for Unlock Phase II, beginning from July 1, with relaxations in night curfew, provision for more domestic flights and trains, and clearance for more than five people in a shop.
In his Mann ki Baat programme on Sunday, PM Modi had reiterated the country’s commitment to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and had asked citizens to not be negligent as the economy reopened.
After PM Modi announced extension of the PMGKAY by five months till November, Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan urged state governments to complete at the earliest distribution of free PDS grains and pulses for June month under the scheme. "I thank the Prime Minister for extending PMGKAY for five moe months till November. This will benefit 800 million beneficiaries in this crisis and also during the agriculture and festival seasons in the coming months," Paswan said in a statement. The minister also requested state governments to start lifting the required foodgrains from state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) for distribution under the PMGKAY for the coming months.
Home Minister Amit Shah said the extension of PMGKAY shows the sensitivity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the millions of poor and their welfare. Congratulating the prime minister for extending the scheme till November, Shah also thanked farmers and honest taxpayers of the country, saying their hard work and dedication was helping the benefits reach the poor. The extension of PMGKAY shows Prime Minister Modi's commitment to the welfare of the poor, BJP president J P Nadda said. Underlining that Modi is leading the country with alertness and sensitivity during the Covid crisis, Nadda, in a series of tweets, said the prime minister should be applauded for saving lives and livelihood amid this pandemic.
Targetting Prime Minister Modi's speech, the Congress said the address lacked substance and it could just have been a government notification. However, the party acknowledged the PM's announcement to extend the PMGKAYPM scheme till November end, saying the government heeded to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's advice to extend the provisions of providing free food to the poor.
The Centre on Monday issued guidelines for Unlock Phase II with relaxations in night curfew, provision for more domestic flights and trains, and clearance for more than five people in a shop.
However, schools, colleges and other educational institutions will remain closed till July 31, and Metro rail, multiplexes, gyms, swimming pools, bars and auditoriums will stay shut until further orders.
An order issued by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said that as per the instructions of the National Disaster Management Authority, more activities were being allowed in a calibrated manner in areas outside containment zones. Inside containment zones, lockdown measures have been extended till July 31.
In his Mann ki Baat programme, Prime Minister paid tributes to the 20 Indian soldiers who had died in the violent clashes with Chinese troops on June 15 in Galwan Valley and asserted that India had given a befitting reply to those who cast an evil eye on its territory. Modi said that making the country self-reliant will be a tribute to the soldiers. “Our pursuits and endeavours should be in the same direction,” he said, adding that “we should strive towards enhancing the country’s capabilities and capacities in safeguarding our borders. “A self-reliant India would be a tribute to our martyrs in the truest, deepest sense,” he stressed.
He also said that “India’s solemn resolve is to safeguard her honour and sovereignty” and to be self-reliant. “India’s tradition is -trust and friendship. India’s spirit is brotherhood.”
