New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday approved extension of the sugar subsidy scheme for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families distributed through the Public Distribution Scheme (PDS) for two more years till March 31, 2026. Gave it.
Under the scheme, the central government provides a subsidy of Rs 18.50 per kg per month on sugar to AAY families in the participating states. This approval is expected to yield benefits of over Rs 1,850 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period (2020-21 to 2025-26). This scheme is expected to benefit about 1.89 crore AAY families of the country.
“The scheme eases access to sugar for the poorest of the poor and adds energy to their diets to improve their health,” an official statement said.
The Government of India is already providing free ration under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY). The statement said the sale of ‘Bharat Atta’, ‘Bharat Dal’ and tomatoes and onions at affordable and fair prices are measures to ensure adequate food in the plates of citizens beyond PM-GKAY.
So far, about 3 lakh tonnes of gram dal and about 2.4 lakh tonnes of flour have been sold, which has benefited the common consumers. Thus, the availability of subsidized pulses, flour and sugar has provided complete food to the common citizen of India, fulfilling Modi’s guarantee of ‘food for all, nutrition for all’, the statement said Is.
With this approval, the government will continue to provide subsidy to participating states for sugar distribution to AAY families at the rate of one kilogram per family per month through PDS. It is the responsibility of the states to procure and distribute sugar.
