Punjab will issue Aadhaar-linked e-ration cards to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries get subsidised foodgrain.
“All the identified beneficiaries are being distributed Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) compliant e-ration cards,” said state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon.
Punjab is the first state in the country to have initiated the e-ration cards to ensure that only genuine and deserving beneficiaries get subsidised ration, he added.
After implementation of National Food Security Act, distribution of subsidised foodgrain is being done strictly on the basis of digitised database of the ration card holders, the Minister said.
Punjab is among the first states to have implemented the National Food Security Act 2013. About 31 lakh beneficiary families were covered under the subsidised foodgrain scheme, he said. Kairon said earlier only about 11 per cent of state’s population was eligible for receiving subsidised foodgrains, which was much lower than in neighbouring states like Haryana with the same socio economic pattern.
After the aggressive persuasion by the state government, the coverage has increased manifold, he said. Under the food security law, 54.79 per cent rural and 44.83 per cent urban population in the state are to be covered under this Act. Of the total population of 2.77 crore, 1.41 crore individuals were entitled for receiving subsidised food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System and NFSA, he said.
Kairon said that as per the provisions of this Act, every person identified under the priority households would be distributed five kilograms of coarse food grains (Rs 1 per kg) or wheat (Rs 2 per kg) or rice (Rs 3 per kg) per month. MORE PTI CHS To ensure regular supply of foodgrains, the eldest woman (above 18 years) in a beneficiary family has been designated as ‘Head of Family’ for the purpose of drawing ration. He further said 13 lakh new beneficiary families have been identified and wheat distribution to them started in February 2014.
At present, about 31 lakh identified beneficiary families are being covered and the state government was providing doorstep delivery. Referring to the State Government’s Atta Dal Scheme, he said the government has now decided to cover all identified fodd security law beneficiaries under its own scheme, which was re-launched as New Atta Dal Scheme under the ambit of National Food Security Act.
The minister also said that it has been decided to distribute 6-month quota in High Density Polyethylene and polyporpylene consumer bags weighing 30 kg twice a year during June and December. Any kind of complaint in quantity or quality would be addressed istantaneously, he said. He further said it was decided that distribution of wheat would be in the presence of government official and a member of Vigilance Committee. Earlier, beneficiaries were distributed wheat out of old wheat stocks. But now only fresh wheat stocks were being distributed to the beneficiaries, he said.