Massive Exercise to supply pulses and food grains to 80 crore people
On May 8, 2020, Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan announced that NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited) is to provide free pulses for three months to more than 19.5 crore households for three months.
Highlights
On one side, the GoI is undergoing the procurement process on full scale and on the other side it is distributing food grains under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. The procurement is being done by FCI (Food Corporation of India) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited). This year, the Food Corporation of India has loaded 73.95 lakh metric tonnes of food grains. This includes 55.38 lakh tonnes of rice and 18.57 lakh tonnes of wheat.
The Exercise
Under the exercise, the Government is to distribute free 1 kg of pulses to 19.5 crore people for a period of three months. This is the first time Government is carrying such a massive operation. The stock of pulses in about 165 NAFED godowns are to be used in the scheme. Around 100 dal mills are to work to achieve the target.
Progress so far
So far, 51,105 lakh tonnes of pulses have been distributed. This includes Urad Whole, Tur Dal, Moong whole, Channa Dal and Masur Dhal.
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Month: Current Affairs - May, 2020