The intended beneficiaries of National Food Security Scheme may have to wait for another two to three months to procure their ration under the scheme because about 10 months after its launch in the state, the Department of Food and Civil Supply has made around 50 per cent of total new ration cards for intended beneficiaries and Panchayat election is inching closer.
However, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has set June 30 as the deadline for its implement. If sources are to be believed, the Department of Food and Civil Supply is in such a hurry that its officers have assigned the task of making the new ration cards to Public Distribution System shopkeepers.
In Dehradun, some shopkeepers of Patelnagar, Raipur and other areas have been assigned the task of making new ration cards.
According to departmental data about 50 per cent of total allocated new ration cards have been made in Dehradun district, 50 per cent in Tehri, 35 per cent in Uttarkashi, 55 per cent in Chamoli, 50 per cent in Rudraprayag, 35 per cent in Pauri, 60 per cent in Haridwar, 30 per cent in Nainital, 45 per cent in Almora, 25 per cent in Pithoragarh, 20 per cent in Bageshwar, 40 per cent in Champawat and 45 per cent in Udham Singh Nagar. Department officials state that the task of making new ration cards for beneficiaries of this scheme was delayed due to the parliamentary polls.
However, State additional secretary, Food and Civil Supply, Ravinath Raman said that the district officers have been directed to speed up the task of making new ration cards and distribute these within a month so that this scheme can be implemented by June 30.The Central Government has already approved quota of food grains for beneficiaries under the scheme and the state would get this quota by June this year.