Department of Food and Distribution Secretary Shudhanshu Pandey on Monday briefed media about the department's initiatives and achievements in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)and procurement of food grains during current marketing season. He also briefed about the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' (ONORC) scheme.

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While addressing the media, Pandey informed that Centre is running the longest ever exercise of distributing free food grains to people during this pandemic time. He also added that heights have been scaled this year in procurement of food grains. Pandey informed that under the PMGKAY scheme total 305 LMT food grains had been lifted during PMGKAY 1 and 2 (Apr 2020 - Nov 2020). As for PMGKAY-3 , total 78.26 LMT food grains have been lifted by the states and the union territories for two months for May-June 2021.

The Secretary of the Department of Food and Distribution also commented on the implementation and progress of the PMGKAY 3-4 and ONORC Scheme. He informed that under PMGKAY 3 and 4 additional and free-of-cost food grains are being provided to around all 80 crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries at Rs 5 Kg per person per month from May 2021 to November 2021. As on July 5, 2021,  in PMGKAY-3, total 88.9 per cent, that is, 70.6 LMT food grains have already been distributed among beneficiaries. For phase 4 of PMGKAY, from July to November 2021, the states and the union territories have been allocated 198.78 LMT food grains for 5-months by June 24, 2021.

While briefing about the ONORC scheme, Pandey informed that ONORC is now fully enabled in 32 states and union territories and the remaining states are expected to enable ONORC in near future. He informed that an average 1.5 crore monthly portability transactions are being recorded under ONORC.