DNA Explainer: Difference between Centre's free ration yojna and Delhi's doorstep ration delivery scheme

Days after the Delhi government claimed that Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has blocked its 'Doorstep Delivery of Ration' scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for 80 crore people till Diwali.

The Centre has been distributing 5 kilograms of foodgrains per person, at Rs 1-3 per kg via ration shops monthly. Over 80 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are being provided with the foodgrains through the scheme.

In addition, 5 kg of free grains are being distributed to the same beneficiaries under the PMGKAY scheme (which was re-introduced in May 2021 amid the second COVID-19 wave), to minimize economic hardships being faced by the poor. This has now been extended till Diwali.

Today we try to understand the differences between the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and the Delhi government's 'Doorstep Delivery of Ration' scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

Run by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution the PMGKAY is a food safety welfare scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was introduced by the government of India in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The goal is to feed the poorest people by offering grain by way of the Public Distribution System, to all the precedence households (ration cardholders and people recognized by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme).

Under the scheme, free-of-cost 5 kg of rice or wheat (according to regional dietary preferences) per person and 1 kg of pulse to each family holding a ration card is provided.

The scale of this welfare scheme makes it the largest food security programme in the world. This allocation is over and above the supply of foodgrains under the NFSA.

Under this special scheme, around 80 crores NFSA beneficiaries are being covered under both categories of NFSA namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Householders (PHH).

Delhi's doorstep ration delivery scheme

The 'Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna' (MMGGRY) under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) of the National Food Security Act, 2013, was notified by the government on February 20.

The MMGGRY involves the delivery of packed wheat flour and rice to beneficiaries at their doorsteps. There are about 17 lakh PDS beneficiaries in Delhi.

According to the notified scheme, the beneficiaries will have to pay the processing (conversion) charge along with the cost of subsidised foodgrains.

As per the notified scheme, Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC) will empanel millers and rice processors to lift the foodgrains for cleaning, grinding and packaging.

The packed foodgrains will be transported from millers to fair-price shops and from there to the doorsteps of beneficiaries through direct home delivery (DHD) agencies.

These direct home delivery (DHD) agencies need to be engaged by Delhi Consumer's Co-operative Wholesale Store Ltd (OCCWS).

Ration card holders may draw their full entitlement of foodgrains in more than one installment.

The scheme will be optional and existing TPDS beneficiaries in Delhi will have to specify whether they want to enroll under it.

Beneficiaries will be able to exercise the option at the beginning of every financial year.