Pink ration card holders to get rice and wheat for free

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Each member in the Pink ration card will now get four kilos of rice and one kilo of wheat as free ration, which were earlier given at a price. However, yellow and pink ration card holders will no longer get the 5 kg of free rice that they got during the Covid period. The yellow card holders will continue to get this as free of charge. The 5 kg of free rice provided through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) has been discontinued after the Central Integrated Free Ration Scheme started in the state. 1.54 crore members on 40.97 lakh cards were benefited by PMGKAY for 2 years. With the stoppage of the project, there has been a 40 percent reduction in the foodgrains received by the state.

Earlier, rice provided by centre for a cost, was given for free in Kerala to the yellow card holders. Now the Centre has also made it free. The distribution for the month of January started yesterday. Ration shops are open in the morning and evening in each of the 7 districts.