Srinagar, Mar 26 (KNO): The Union Government said that over 67 lakh beneficiaries are currently covered under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya said, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a total of 67,47,172 beneficiaries in J&K are receiving subsidised foodgrains under the scheme as per the latest available data.
The minister said that under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), it is the responsibility of the Union Territory administration to identify eligible households based on criteria set by it, within the prescribed coverage limits.
She further informed that the list of beneficiaries is subject to continuous review, with provisions for deletion of ineligible households and inclusion of eligible ones to ensure transparency and effectiveness of the scheme.
As per the government, States and UTs, including Jammu and Kashmir, are also required to carry out mandatory e-KYC of all ration card holders every five years to streamline the Public Distribution System.
The Centre reiterated that the beneficiary identification process remains dynamic and is regularly updated by the respective UT administration to ensure that the benefits reach the deserving population—(KNO)