The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) is a welfare initiative introduced by the Government of India in 2016. Initially aimed at offering a window for tax compliance, the scheme gained renewed focus during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was expanded into the PMGKY relief package. The initiative was launched to support economically weaker sections by providing financial aid and essential services.
The broader objective of PMGKY is to ensure that marginalised communities, especially daily wage earners, small farmers, construction workers, and women, receive direct and indirect support during times of crisis. The relief measures under the PMGKY package were rolled out under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), which included multiple support schemes related to food security, employment, and income support.
PMGKY is closely aligned with other government schemes such as MGNREGA, PMJDY, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and PM KISAN, making it an integral part of India’s broader social safety net.
Features of the PMGKY Scheme
The PMGKY scheme encompasses a range of features designed to provide timely and effective support to economically disadvantaged individuals. These include both monetary and non-monetary interventions.
Key features:
Free Food Grains: Distribution of free wheat or rice (5 kg per person) and 1 kg of pulses per family per month through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT): Financial assistance was credited directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries, including farmers, women, and pensioners.
Employment Support: Additional funding was allocated to MGNREGA to offer increased daily wages and employment opportunities.
Health Insurance for Frontline Workers: Insurance coverage of ₹50 lakh for healthcare workers under the PMGKY package.
Contribution to EPF: The government paid both employer and employee contributions to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) for eligible establishments.
Support to Building and Construction Workers: Financial aid was channelled through welfare funds maintained by state governments.
The scheme aimed to minimise disruptions caused by the pandemic while enhancing access to basic necessities.
Benefits of the PMGKY Scheme
The benefits of the PMGKY scheme are comprehensive, addressing both immediate and long-term concerns of low-income groups.
Key benefits include:
Financial Inclusion: Beneficiaries received money directly into their PMJDY-linked bank accounts, improving access to formal financial services.
Food Security: Through free ration distribution, the scheme ensured uninterrupted food supply to millions of households.
Support to Farmers: Additional instalments under PM KISAN helped small and marginal farmers cope with seasonal and pandemic-related challenges.
Women Empowerment: Cash transfers to women account holders under the Jan Dhan Yojana provided liquidity and promoted household stability.
Senior Citizens, Widows and Disabled Persons: These groups received ex-gratia payments to help with basic sustenance.
Labour Welfare: Employment generation and increased wages for rural workers supported by MGNREGA.
These benefits collectively strengthened the social protection framework during an economic slowdown.
Specific Benefits of PMGKY for Different Sections
The PMGKY scheme tailored its offerings to cater to different groups. The table below provides an overview of specific benefits:
Beneficiary Group
| Benefit Provided
|
PMJDY Women Account Holders
| ₹500 per month for three months
|
PM KISAN Beneficiaries
| Advance payment of ₹2,000 instalment
|
Senior Citizens / Widows / Disabled
| One-time ex-gratia of ₹1,000 (in two instalments)
|
MGNREGA Workers
| Wage increase from ₹182 to ₹202 per day (approx. ₹2,000 annual increase per worker)
|
EPF Account Holders (eligible firms)
| 12% employer and 12% employee EPF contribution paid by the government
|
Ujjwala Yojana Beneficiaries
| Free LPG cylinders for three months
|
Health Workers
| ₹50 lakh insurance cover under PMGKY
|
These measures ensured that relief reached diverse segments, improving the resilience of vulnerable households.
Documents Required to Apply for PM Garib Kalyan Yojana
Although the scheme offered automatic enrolment for several benefits based on existing schemes, certain documents were essential for availing various entitlements under PMGKY.
Commonly required documents include:
Aadhaar Card: Used for identity verification and linking to DBT.
Bank Account Details: Preferably a PMJDY account for receiving cash benefits.
Ration Card: Required for free grain distribution under PDS.
EPF UAN: For those eligible for EPF-related benefits.
Disability Certificate / Pension Proof: For availing specific benefits for elderly, disabled, or widowed beneficiaries.
Ujjwala Connection Number: For those seeking LPG benefits.
Beneficiaries were encouraged to link their Aadhaar with their bank accounts to avoid delays in benefit transfers.
Eligibility of PM Garib Kalyan Yojana
The eligibility for various components under PMGKY depended on the type of relief being offered. Most benefits were auto-credited to individuals already enrolled in government welfare schemes.
Eligibility criteria:
Farmers registered under PM KISAN.
Women account holders under the Jan Dhan Yojana.
Senior citizens, widows, and disabled individuals who already receive government pensions.
Construction and building workers registered under state welfare boards.
Low-income households with valid ration cards under the National Food Security Act.
EPFO members working in establishments with up to 100 employees, where 90% earned less than ₹15,000 monthly.
There was no centralised application process; benefits were disbursed using existing beneficiary databases.
How to Apply for PMGKY Scheme?
The PMGKY scheme was largely based on pre-existing government records, so separate applications were generally not required. However, certain steps helped in ensuring seamless access to benefits.
Steps to ensure eligibility and benefit disbursal:
Ensure Aadhaar Seeding: Link Aadhaar to Jan Dhan bank accounts and ration cards.
Maintain Active PMJDY Account: Keep the bank account operational and updated.
Update KYC Details: Complete Know Your Customer formalities in bank accounts and LPG connections.
Register for Welfare Schemes: Farmers, labourers, and workers should enrol in schemes like PM KISAN, MGNREGA, and State Welfare Boards.
Check Government Portals: Visit the respective ministry websites for specific updates.
In most cases, beneficiaries automatically received the entitled benefits without any additional formal application.
Conclusion
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) plays a vital role in India’s social welfare landscape, particularly during periods of economic distress. Through its comprehensive approach, the scheme delivered critical support to farmers, workers, women, senior citizens, and healthcare personnel. By leveraging digital infrastructure and existing welfare databases, PMGKY ensured that help reached the intended groups quickly and efficiently.
As India continues to refine its social protection strategies, schemes like PMGKY serve as examples of how coordinated public policy can offer timely and targeted relief to those most in need.
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