Additional Foodgrains Available for AAY and PHH Households in Jammu & Kashmir

The Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs has announced that additional foodgrains will be made available to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) if needed.

Currently, the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Jammu & Kashmir serves 25.11 lakh households, totalling 98.64 lakh beneficiaries. Of these, 16.64 lakh households with 66.18 lakh beneficiaries are eligible to receive free foodgrains each month under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Additionally, nearly 8.47 lakh Non-Priority Households, comprising around 32.46 lakh beneficiaries, are provided foodgrains at highly subsidised rates: rice at Rs. 15/kg, wheat at Rs. 12/kg, and wheat flour at Rs. 13/kg.

To further support Priority Households (PHH), the Government of Jammu & Kashmir is implementing the Prime Minister’s Food Supplementation for Priority Households Scheme. This scheme provides an extra 5 kg of rice per month per member of a PHH, up to a maximum of 10 kg per household, at a cost of Rs. 25/kg. The total entitlement per household under all schemes is capped at 35 kg. Currently, 13.49 lakh households are eligible under this scheme.

The rice is procured through the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) of the Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India. Approximately 12,400 MT of foodgrains are required each month to meet the needs of eligible households under this scheme.

As per Government Order No: 94-JK(FCS&CA) of 2023, dated 20-07-2023, there is a provision to supply additional foodgrains at market rates to AAY and PHH families if they request them. This provision appears to have been overlooked by some beneficiaries. Therefore, the Department has issued a new order reminding that if any Priority Household or AAY family needs further foodgrains, they will be provided at a sale price. This price will cover the actual cost of procurement from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) plus the Department’s handling charges.