Why in News?

=> Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the free ration distribution campaign under the National Food Security Act. On this occasion, the Chief Minister distributed free ration to 10 beneficiaries. 

Key Points:

=> It is to be known that under this campaign, 15 crore people of the state will be distributed free ration from December 2021 to March 2022 through 80,000 ration shops.

=> The Chief Minister said that in the scheme being implemented today, 1 liter edible oil, 1 kg salt, 1 kg pulses and 1 kg sugar are being provided to each Antyodaya card holder free of cost along with permissible food grains.

=> Similarly, 1 liter of edible oil, 1 kg of salt and 1 kg of pulses are being provided free of cost to each eligible household card holder along with permissible food grains.

=> It is worth noting that in the year 2020, from the month of April to November, 80 crore eligible people of the country including 15 crore needy people of Uttar Pradesh were benefited under the 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana'.

=> In the year 2020, the state government had also distributed free food grains for three months from April to June, which benefited 15 crore people of the state.

=> In the year 2021, even during the second wave of Corona, the Central Government had implemented the scheme of distribution of free food grains from May, 2021 (Ram Navami) to Deepawali (7 months).

=> Similarly, the state government also distributed free food grains to Antyodaya and eligible household card holders till June, July and August, 2021.

=> With a view to ensure that every needy gets ration, work is being done to re-launch this mega food grain distribution scheme and take it forward from Diwali to Holi.