Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that up to 80 crore Indians will receive free rations till Diwali. This will be part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana scheme.

“The government has decided to extend Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till Diwali. 80 crore poor will be provided free ration, under the scheme,” PM Modi added.

“The government is with the poor during this pandemic. Over 80 crore of our population will get ration till November. Nobody should sleep hungry”, said Modi in his address to the nation.

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Modi first announced a free ration worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore to around 80 crore people in October 2020.

Modi added, “New health infrastructure has been developed in the 1.5 years with COVID hospitals, ventilators beds, to preparing a network of testing labs. During the 2nd wave in April-May, demand for medical oxygen increased at an unprecedented rate”.