On Wednesday, the central government enhanced a free ration programme that gave 80 crore poor people access to free wheat and rice. The plan, which was about to expire, was given a three-month extension. Over Rs 44,700 crore would be spent on extending the free ration programme. The Friday deadline for the programme to give 5 kg of free wheat and rice to 80 crore underprivileged people has been extended to December 31, 2022. To assist the poor whose livelihoods were disrupted by a statewide lockdown intended to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was launched in April 2020. The plan, which has been repeatedly extended, was meant to be completed on Friday.
