THE Government on Monday ruled out the possibility of free foodgrains distribution to migrants saying there is no panic situation and no complete national lockdown unlike last year. However, the Government has started distributing additional free grains again under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for two months -- May and June -- to 80 crore ration cardholders. The Government said there is no impact on prices of foodgrains in the open market due to free grains distribution under PMGKAY.

 

 

“Migrant crisis is not as big as it was last year... It is not a complete national lockdown. It is a local lockdown, industry is working. The complete lockdown is not there. That panic is also not there,” Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said in a virtual press meet. Those migrants, who have gone back to their villages, are availing ration supply either through State or Central ration cards, he said. Last year, the Government had distributed 6.40 lakh tonne of foodgrains for free to migrants and stranded migrants.