Ration, Relief and Rural Life: An Ethnographic Study of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana in Rural Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The Government of India’s comprehensive approach to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and addressing related challenges is reflected in various initiatives and policies. Poverty and hunger are widespread issues in India, and tackling such complex problems poses a significant challenge for the government. However, the government has, from time to time, enacted different policies to address these deep-rooted problems. This research paper will conduct a sociological analysis of one such government policy, the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana”, examining its impact on rural populations, its effects on rural society and development, and whether it truly benefits rural populations. The scheme was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the virus spread across the country and the government imposed a ‘lockdown’ to contain its impact. The Government of India announced a nationwide lockdown on March 25, 2020. The lockdown created several issues for the public, particularly the rural population, who relied on small incomes, were hit hard, and now faced a new round of hardships. Therefore, the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched this scheme in April 2020, under which the destitute, daily-wage labourers, and the poorreceive free food grains. In this scheme, 800 million people received free food grains. This scheme has evolved and has become more than a policy measure; it is a lifeline for this vulnerable part of society.