Babbu Khan
Srinagar, May 28: Amid COVID-19 lockdown, charitable organizations involved in relief operations in J&K are eligible to purchase food grains from Food Corporation of India at reduced rates.
As per the new directions, in order to support the NGOs and charitable organizations involved in relief operations in J&K, GoI has asked FCI to provide wheat and rice on similar rates to all such organizations without any upper limit on quantity.
Those who are not covered under National Food Security Act are also now entitled to receive food grains at reduced rates of Rs 22 a kg for rice and Rs 21 a kg for wheat.
“Sufficient food grains are stocked which can last for next two years for entire country. People don’t need to panic. We urge them to stay home and stay safe,” a GoI official told news agency KINS.
Earlier, Government of India has approved providing free ration, 5 kg per soul, to consumers falling under category of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority House Holds (PHH) for next three months.
The free distribution in J&K has already begun. Authorities are free to lift the entire 3 months allocation at one go or on monthly basis as per provisions under NFSA. The FCI has moved a record 3.74 million tones food grains stocks across the country using 1,335 train loads from the surplus states during the lockdown period at an average of 1.7 lakh tonnes per day.
This is more than double its normal average movement of about 0.8 lakh tonnes per day.
