A day after the declaration of the 21-day lockdown to prevent the Coronavirus pandemic, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced the world’s largest food security scheme to benefit 80 crore people across the country. Briefing media, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that every person who comes under this scheme will get 7 kg ration per month for the next three months, including wheat at a cost of Rs.2 per kg and rice at cost of Rs.3 per kg. The 80-crore people who would come under this scheme are those who use the Public Distribution System (PDS) and financially downtrodden, explained the Minister.
“The government has decided to provide 7 kg per person of food grains to 80 crore people under the Public Distribution System (PDS), which the world’s largest food security system,” said Javadekar, detailing the Cabinet decision.
“80 crore people will get wheat at Rs.2 a kg and rice at Rs.3 kg for the next three months,” the minister said. Wheat, which is otherwise given at Rs.7 per kg, is being given at Rs.2… this happens otherwise as well, but we should not forget that this is being given to 80 crore people for three months. Rice will be supplied at Rs.3/kg & wheat at Rs.2/kg. For 80 crore people, rice would be available at Rs.3 instead of its usual price which is Rs.37,” said Javadekar, reiterating public to avoid panic in buying essential commodities.