In a bid to make the national Capital hunger-free, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced an ambitious Food Security Scheme to be launched on August 20.
Addressing the third workshop of time-bound delivery of services with Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs), Dikshit said, “The benefits of the food security scheme will reach a population of 32 lakhs with effect from September 1.” Dikshit announced that under this scheme, the families below poverty line would get wheat at Rs 2 per kg, rice at Rs 3 per kg and coarse grain at Rs 1 per kg.
“This scheme would go a long way in overcoming malnutrition and poverty. The benefit would be given through the oldest female member of the family in order to further empower women in the Capital city. The city Government would side-by-side include more families in the ambit of Food Security,” Dikshit said at the workshop held at Yamuna Sports Complex.
The Delhi Government would distribute Food Security Cards under the scheme aiming to make the city hunger-free through its Jan Aahar and Aap Ki Rasoi Centres. The workshop, held for the representatives of RWAs from East, North-East and Shahdara districts to promote Government-Citizen partnership was attended by nearly 4,000 office bearers of 900 RWAs.
The Food Security programme will be the biggest in the world with the Government spending estimated at Rs 1,25,000 crore annually on supply of about 62 million tonnes of rice, wheat and coarse cereals to 67 per cent of the population. Delhi Government had launched Annashri Yojna, a major food security programme, in December last year, under which monthly cash subsidy of Rs 600 are being transferred directly into Aadhaar-linked bank account of the senior-most female member of around one lakh poor families.
Dikshit also lauded her government for sincerely working to facilitate people in getting services from various Government departments and agencies without any hassles and delay. “The time-bound delivery of services mechanism has resulted in another revolution after the RTI Act, as people are getting the required certificates and services within stipulated period, failing which action is being taken against erring officers and the affected applicants are being compensated,” said Dikshit.
The Chief Minister also said that to improve work culture in the city, the government has set up six e-Sub Registrar offices, e-stamping has been introduced and entire offices of Transport and Education are computerised today. “Our aim is to make all offices paperless,” she said. During the workshop, Dikshit also heard the problems and suggestions personally communicated by the office bearers of the RWAs and assured that action on their issues would be taken within a fortnight’s time.