Bhubaneswar, Nov 29: Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister for extending the 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) scheme' to provide 5 kg of free food grains per month to 81 crore poor for another five years.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the gift of free food grains to 81 crore people of the country for another five years is a huge step towards the welfare of the poor and self-respect of the poor. He also called it as "The guarantee of a sensitive and people-friendly government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी की संवेदनशील और जन-हितैषी सरकार की गारंटी।

देश के 81 करोड़ जनता को #5SaalMuftRation का उपहार ग़रीब कल्याण और ग़रीब स्वाभिमान की दिशा में एक बहुत बड़ा कदम है। आज #Cabinet में इस ऐतिहासिक निर्णय को मंज़ूरी देने के लिए प्रधानमंत्री जी का आभार। pic.twitter.com/3HFatOZ0JN
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) November 29, 2023

The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that the Central government will provide free food grains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the PMGKAY for a period of five years with effect from January 1, 2024.

Read: National News

This is a historic decision that places PMGKAY amongst the World’s biggest social welfare schemes aimed at ensuring food and nutrition security for 81.35 crore people, at an estimated cost of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore over a 5 year period.

The provision of free food grains under PMGKAY for five years with effect from 1st January 2024 reflects the long-term commitment and vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing National food and nutrition security.

Argus News: ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଖବର | Breaking News, ରାଜନୀତି, କ୍ରୀଡ଼ା ଓ Live TV