Why in the news?
- The Supreme Court has directed that doctors deputed for COVID-19 duties be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).
- Launch: Launched in March 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic
- Objective: Aimed at protecting the poor from economic distress by ensuring food security, income support, and employment safeguards during lockdowns.
- Key Components:
- PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): Free 5 kg wheat/rice per person and 1 kg dal per family monthly via PDS for 80 crore beneficiaries, extended multiple times till 2023.
- Cash Transfers: ₹500/month for 3 months to 20 crore women Jan Dhan holders; ₹1,000 to 3 crore senior citizens, widows, disabled.
- Insurance Coverage: Insurance cover for frontline workers, including healthcare workers engaged in emergency duties.
- Target Beneficiaries:
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households
- Priority households under NFSA
- Informal sector workers, migrant labourers, and economically weaker sections
- Frontline workers involved in crisis response
- Implementation Mechanism:
- Public Distribution System (PDS) for distributing food grains
- Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile (JAM) trinity
- Nodal Agencies: Coordinated efforts of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Ministry of Rural Development
Source: The Hindu