Govt gears up to distribute 5 kg free ration for 80 crore poor people in May and June

New Delhi: In a big relief to the poorer sections of the society, the Central government on Friday announced that it will provide free food grains under the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana for the months of May and June, 2021.

In a statement released by the Government of India, 5 kilogram free food grains will be provided to around 80 crore beneficiaries in the country.

The Centre will spend more than Rs 26,000 crore on this initiative that has been taken in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country.

The announcement has come as India continues to shatter all ‘records’ on the coronavirus front. The country recorded more than 3.32 lakh new coronavirus cases in a single day on Friday.

With 3,32,730 new coronavirus cases recorded over the past 24 hours, as per the data updated at 8 am this morning, India’s caseload has risen to 1,62,63,695 with 24,28,616 active cases.

The death toll stands at 1,86,920 with the addition of a record 2,263 new fatalities.

Active cases now comprise 14.93 per cent of the total infections registered in the country. The national COVID-19 recovery rate has now dropped to 83.92 per cent.

Recoveries have surged to 1,36,48,159, with the case fatality rate being at 1.15 per cent.

As per PTI, India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20, one crore on December 19, and 1.50 crore on April 19, 2021.