Lok Sabha Question No. 2842 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: PMGKAY
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2842

TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025

## PM(,KAY

## 2842.  SHRI CHHATRAPAL  SINGH GANGWAR:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): the details offoodgrains  being provided under the Pradhan Marltri Garib Kalyarl Anna Yojana (PMGKAY);
- (b): the steps taken by the Government  to enhance nutritional support through this Yojana;
- (c): the provisions made by the Government  under this Yojana for women and children; and
- (d): the options available in case the beneficiaries are not supplied foodgrains as per their prescribed entitlement?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI  NIMUBEN JAYANTIBH Al  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) &  (b): The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  is governed as per provisions of  the National Food Security Act  (NFSA), 2013. Under the Act,  the term 'foodgrains' is  defined as  rice,  wheat or  coarse grains or  any combination thereof conforming to  such quality norms as may be determined, by  order, by  the Central Government from time to time.

To improve the level of nutrition among the targeted beneficiaries covered under the PMGKAY, all  the States/UTs have been advised to  procure millets and distribute to beneficiaries as per local consumption preferences and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time

- (c): The Act  further  provides that pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in the age group of  6  months to  14 years are entitled  to  meals as per prescribed nutritional norms under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and  PM-POSHAN schemes. Higher nutritional norms are prescribed for  malnourished children upto 6 years of  age. In order to  improve the  level of  nutrition,  the  Nutritional  Standards have been revised by amending Schedule-11 of the Act vide notification  dated 25.01.2023.
- (d): The Act  provides that the State Government shall appoint or designate, for each district, an officer to be the District Grievance Redressal Officer for expeditious and effective redressal of  grievances of the aggrieved persons in matters relating  to  distribution  of  entitled foodgrains or meals under Chapter II, and to enforce the entitlements  under this Act. The Act further  provides for  constitution/designation  of  State Food  Commission (SFC)  for  the purpose of monitoring and review of implementation of the Act. The SFC, either suo motu or on receipt of complaint inquire into violations of entitlements provided under the Act.

In case of non-supply of the entitled quantities of foodgrains to entitled persons, such persons shall be entitled to receive food security allowance in cash from the concerned State Government, as per the Food Security Allowance Rule, 2015 notified by Central Government on 21.01.2015

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