NEW DELHI: Barely 15 per cent of the families entitled for highly subsidized foodgrains under the NFSA have got one kilogram of free pulses during this month.The government had announced to provide one kilogram free pulses per family for three months – April, May and June - under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna In an official statement, the consumer affairs ministry said about 30,000 tonnes of pulses have been distributed so far, which translates to at least three crore families have got the free one kg pulses. The release also said the scheme will benefit about 20 crore families covered under NFSA."While, as on date, about 30,000 tonnes of pluses have been distributed, but this would speed up in the first week of May. Many states/ UTs, particularly the smaller ones such as Andamans, Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Goa, Ladakh, Puducherry Lakshadweep and even Punjab have been provided milled/ cleaned pulses for all three months in one go," the ministry said.It also listed out several challenges in distribution of pulses. It said unlike foodgrain, the pulses had been milled and supplied to states.It said, "Executed by Nafed under guidance of the consumer affairs department, this operation entails lifting of un-milled pulses from the godowns of central or state warehousing corporations, getting the pulses milled or cleaned as per quality standards prescribed by FSSAI and then reaching the milled pulses to the states. Thereafter, the milled pulses are carried to state government godowns and then to PDS shops for distribution."The ministry said each kilogram of pulse goes through at least three and in many cases four trips by truck and as many cycles of loading and unloading."About 8.5 lakh tonnes of un-milled pulses will be moved in this process to distribute about 5.88 lakh tonnes of milled and cleaned pulses to citizens," the ministry said.Each month, 1.96 lakh tonnes of pulses are required to be distributed to NFSA households in the country through rations shops. About three-fourth of the milled and cleaned pulses have been offered to the state governments and UTs.