The Government of India runs many public welfare schemes for the citizens of the country. People from different sections of the country benefit from these schemes. Even today there are many people in our country who have to struggle for two meals a day. For such needy people, the Government of India provides free ration under the National Food Security Act.
It is mandatory to have a ration card to avail of this scheme. Crores of people in the country are given free ration under this scheme. But there are still many people who are not aware of how much free ration is given by the government every month. Let us tell you how much free ration the government provides to the people every month.
How many kilograms of ration is available every month
The central government provides free ration facilities to all the poor and needy people of the country. Under this scheme run by the government, eligible beneficiaries are given 5 kg of free ration per person per month. This 5 kg ration mainly includes 3 kg rice and 2 kg wheat.
This ration is made available to the needy under the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) of the Central Government. Apart from this, many states of the country also provide additional rations under their different schemes, which depend on state-specific rules.
Who gets the benefit of this scheme
Like every government scheme, in this free ration scheme also the government has set some eligibility criteria. The benefit of the free ration scheme of the Central Government is available to those families who have a BPL (Below Poverty Line) ration card. That is those families who come below the poverty line. Apart from this, in some states, Antyodaya Card holders are also given its benefit.
How to get a ration card
People who do not have a ration card yet can apply to get it by visiting their nearest government ration dealer. In the process of getting a ration card, you may need some documents (such as identity proof, address proof, and income proof). After applying, the concerned officials will check your application and if found eligible, your ration card will be issued.
It is important to note that the ration card not only provides the benefit of ration facility from the government, but it also plays an important role in many other government schemes (such as identity cards, and address proof). It is an important document that reflects the identity of you and your family and helps in accessing various government facilities.