The Narendra Modi government has changed the name of the food security scheme of the UPA government. The Prime Minister’s name-glory was added to it. On the 11th, the Union Cabinet decided to change the name of the Food Security Scheme to ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’.
During Covid, the Modi government decided to distribute extra rations free of charge to 81 crore people covered under the Food Security Act. Its name was ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’. Two weeks ago, the Modi government decided that 81 crore people will be given free ration under the Food Security Act this year too. So far three rupees per kg for rice and two rupees per kg for wheat will not be taken anymore. But on the other hand, the distribution of additional ration was stopped by ending the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
In this climate, taking a bird’s eye view of our people’s votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Union Cabinet decided on the 11th that the entire food security scheme will be renamed ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ from now on. In the note sent to the Union Cabinet, the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution proposed that the new name be ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Suraksha Yojana’. Instead, Modi chose the name of ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’, which has been running since the time of Covid.
Allegations of Congress
The Congress alleged that the UPA government had taken the scheme of cheap rations for the poor by enacting the Food Security Act. At that time Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi opposed it. Now he is looking to make political gains by putting his name on the project ahead of the 2024 polls. Earlier too, Modi gave a new twist to old government schemes, especially the UPA government’s scheme, adding the Prime Minister’s name to it. For example, Indira Awas Yojana has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
The name of the crop insurance scheme is Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in the Modi era. Jan Aushadhi has also been named after the Prime Minister. The scheme for connecting poor families to free cooking gas has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahayog Yojana is renamed as Pradhan Mantri Matritva Vandana Yojana. A few days ago fertilizer subsidy scheme was also named as Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana. This time the Prime Minister’s name has also been included in the food subsidy.
Statement from government sources
According to government sources, the entire cost of free ration distribution will be borne by the Modi government. As a result, the full credit should go to the Modi government, especially PM Modi. That is why the project is named after the Prime Minister. The argument of the Modi government is that the government will spend more than two lakh crore rupees annually to distribute free rations.