THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Department of Food and Public Distribution is considering the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKY), which provides five kilos of grains free of cost every month to the poor, for another three months. The Food and Public Distribution Department has asked the FCI officials to take stock of reserve grain. If there is sufficient reserve grain in stock, the permission of the Finance Department will be required. A decision may be taken in the next Union Cabinet meeting.

At present, the central pool has 159 lakh tonnes of wheat. If the project is extended till March, 68 lakh tonnes will be required. In South Indian states, rice is being provided under the scheme. FCI officials are pointing out that extending the project for another three months may lead to a crisis in the future. Meanwhile, some think that there will be enough rice as harvest has started in Karnataka and Andhra. The harvest of wheat is in April.

The central government has spent Rs 3.9 lakh crore on subsidies for the seven phases of the scheme which started in April 2020. It will have to spend another Rs 40,000 crore on subsidies if the scheme is extended till March 2023.