Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday promised to extend the free ration (food grains under the public distribution system) scheme for “80 crore poor people of the country” for five years beyond December, and said that “fulfilling the people’s dreams is Modi’s resolve.”

“Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, free ration has been provided to the poor in the country over the past three years. Even though the one-month free ration scheme is coming to an end, Modi’s commitment is to extend it for the next five years. For the next five years, the stoves of 80 crore people in my country will keep burning. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said while addresing a public rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam.

The PM made the same announcement while addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh’s Durg.

“During Covid-19, the biggest concern of the poor was what they would feed their children… Then I decided that I will not let any poor sleep hungry, hence the BJP government started the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” he said.

“Even today, lakhs of poor people have been getting free rice and gram under this scheme which is ending in December, but your son (referring to himself), who has come out from among you, has decided… The BJP government will extend the free ration scheme for 80 crore poor people for the next five years,” the PM further said.

“The BJP government has made such arrangements that no matter where you go in the country, you will continue to get free ration. Modi has given you the facility of ‘One Nation One Ration Card’,” he added.