Taking cue from the experiment of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister late J Jayalalitha, Himachal Pradesh Government is bringing a new scheme to provide cheap food to the poor.
Himachal Pradesh Food and Supplies Minister G S Bali said that the state government would soon launch pulses and other food grains in small packets on the lines of noodles, and the cost of such packets would be just Rs 10.
Announcing the scheme in a press conference after the assembly session, Bali said that the food packets will be available on all the stores of Public Distribution System (PDS). Making another announcement on providing low cost food, Bali said that Rajiv Thaali scheme, started by the state government would soon be extended to 6 more stations. The stations to be included in Rajiv Thali scheme are Palampur, Bilaspur, Chamba, Sundernagar, Mandi and Nagrota would be included in Rajiv Thali scheme.
Bali informed that HPSCSC has decided to open more outlets of fair price shops to sell food items. He said that the Board of Directors had decided to open such 'Apni Dukan' at three or four locations like Kalthrui, Rajgarh and Nagrota.
Making another big announcement, Bali said that the fully automated ration card had been introduced and 16 lac ration cards would be distributed to all 4000 fair price shops of Civil Supply Department before April 10. He said that Aadhar linked digital ration card scanning machines had already been sent to 2000 depots.
He said that corporation would set up six more petrol pumps at Palampur, Sundernagar, Pathankot, Mandi, Sunderngar and Bilaspur as one is already working in Shimla.
To ensure easy supply of lPG to the people in the state and check the duplicity of gas connections, the corporation would start 'special audit drive in all gas agencies of state, said Bali.