Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Urges PM Modi to Retain 35 Kg Free Ration for AAY Families, Warns of Food Security Crisis

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Union Government to withdraw the proposed amendment to the National Food Security Act (NFSA) that could reduce foodgrain benefits for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries. He appealed to the Centre to continue providing 35 kg of free foodgrains per household every month, regardless of family size, as has been the long-standing practice under the NFSA.In his letter, Vijay warned that the proposed amendment—providing 7 kg of foodgrains per person per month, with a maximum limit of 35 kg per household—would significantly impact nearly 70 lakh vulnerable people in Tamil Nadu. He argued that while the Centre says the move is aimed at ensuring equitable distribution, it would effectively reduce foodgrain allocations for many poor families in the state, where the average household size is only 3.54 members.The Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu has 18.64 lakh AAY ration cards, covering over 69.26 lakh beneficiaries, including widows, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, tribal families, landless labourers, daily wage earners, and people battling serious illnesses. He stressed that these families depend heavily on the existing ration entitlement for their daily survival.Vijay said the National Food Security Act was designed to provide unconditional food security to the poorest households and warned that changing the household-based entitlement to a per-person system would unfairly penalise states like Tamil Nadu that have successfully implemented family planning measures.Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s strong Public Distribution System (PDS), the Chief Minister noted that rice remains the staple food for most AAY beneficiaries and cannot be easily replaced with market purchases. Any reduction in the monthly quota, he said, would increase financial hardship, worsen malnutrition, and threaten the food security of lakhs of economically weaker families.Calling for immediate reconsideration, Vijay urged Prime Minister Modi to retain the existing 35 kg free ration per household under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, saying it remains essential to protecting the country’s most vulnerable citizens.