Parliament Question: Beneficiaries of Free Foodgrains

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1834 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29TH JULY, 2026 BENEFICIARIES OF FREE FOODGRAINS 1834 ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to reduce long-term dependency of over eighty one crore beneficiaries on free foodgrains under various food security schemes and if so, the details of steps being taken by the Government to promote self-sufficiency, employment generation and economic empowerment among such beneficiaries; (b) whether the Union Government has introduced any schemes or initiatives aimed at linking food security beneficiaries with skill development, livelihood generation and employment opportunities and if so, the details thereof; and (c) the details of additional support provided by the Union Government to Maharashtra for effective distribution of free foodgrains and addressing challenges related to poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity, district-wise particularly in tribal districts including Nandurbar? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION . (SHRINIATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) & (b): No sir, there is no proposal for reduction of coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The Central Government has launched several national initiatives aimed at enhancing employability and self-reliance among youth. Government oflndia through its various programmes and policies has prioritized skill development to create seln and wage-employment opportunities, and has moved from fragmented, low-scale skilling efforts towards creating a larger, more coordinated, digitally enabled, and education-integrated skilling and entrepreneurship ecosystem(c): The Central Government provides additional support to all States/UTs by providing foodgrains free of cost to the States/UTs through Food Corporation of India (FCI), for which Food subsidy is released to FCI. Only in the case of States participating in the Decentralized Procurement (DCP), under which State Government take responsibility of procurement of foodgrains and its distribution to the eligible households, that food subsidy is released directly to DCP States including Maharashtra. The Central Government also provides assistance to States/UTs including Maharashtra in the prescribed funding pattern for meeting the expenditure towards last mile delivery of foodgrains and fair price shop dealers’ margin for distribution offoodgrains to entitled beneficiaries. #####