Mizoram has begun distribution of free rations to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), an official of state food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department said on Tuesday.

The Centre has allocated 10,023.22 tonnes of rice to Mizoram to be distributed among AAY and PHH beneficiaries free of cost during the lockdown.

In March, the Centre had announced a relief package of Rs 170,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana according to which beneficiaries will be given 5kg of rice and 1kg of dal per person to tackle the food crisis during the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

According to state food, civil supplies and consumer affairs director Lalhriatzuali Ralte, there are 129,410 PHH card holders and 25,995 AAY card holders in the state to avail the benefit.

She said there were 76,669 beneficiaries (members) under the AAY and 617,053 beneficiaries under the PHH respectively.

The government has lifted rice from FCI godowns for April and May and distribution is under way across the state, she said. Ralte added that lifting of rice for June was under progress.

She said the Centre also allocated 60 tonnes of pulses for Mizoram to be distributed among the poor during the lockdown.

According to the director, the state government has made requisition at Buichali near Aizawl for accommodation of vehicles carrying rice bags where vehicles were sanitised with disinfectants.

She said the state government had also distributed free rice to the people in March.

More than 4,300 migrant workers were given free ration and about 75,600 people, who did not have ration cards, were also given rice free of cost in March, she said.

Ralte said the state as of now had enough stock of rice to meet urgent requirement.

Mask for all: Workers of angandwadi under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) projects at East Lungdar and Thingsultliah villages launched the Masks for All campaign to spread awareness during the lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.