UP doles out 20mn tonnes of foodgrain during pandemic

Lucknow

Nearly 150mn beneficiaries received almost 20mn tonnes (MT) of free foodgrain during the last two years of the pandemic in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

The free foodgrain was meant to ensure food security for the needy during the pandemic period from April 2020 to March 2022.

The ex gratia distribution was facilitated by the central and the UP governments in a transparent manner through nearly 80,000 fair price shops across the state, a senior government official said here today.

The total value of the free ration and other commodities distributed for free in the state is more than Rs 4,500 crore.

Earlier, the Yogi government had extended the distribution of free ration for three additional months as soon as the new regime came to power for a consecutive second term in March 2022.

Under the free scheme, 35kg ration, as well as food items like pulses, sugar, edible oil and salt, is given away to the beneficiary households. The free ration is being distributed under the fifth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY).

Meanwhile, the state has also speeded up livelihood programmes in the rural and urban areas to provide employment and self-employment opportunities to the people.

Since a large chunk of the population had returned to UP following strict lockdown in the first wave of the pandemic in March 2020, the government is looking to provide them gainful employment while simultaneously giving them sustenance support in the form of free foodgrain.

The commercial banks have been asked to consider easy working-capital loans to the micro and small enterprises even as the government and private agencies have accelerated the skills development of the youth.

“The $1-trillion-economy dream, as envisioned by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, could only be achieved if the MSME sector prospers. It will also generate mass employment opportunities in different regions,” the official said.