Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday launched the extended phase of the biggest campaign of free ration distribution, other than the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY).
Yogi Adityanath also made a scathing attack on the opposition, saying that under the previous regimes, people died of starvation and the food grains of the poor used to go to the mafia and middlemen.
"During the rule of the previous government, death due to starvation was seen. Before 2017, the food grains of the poor used to go to the mafia and middlemen. But our double engine government implemented the scheme for giving free food grains for two years to 80 crore needy people in the country and 15 crore needy people in the state during the pandemic,” the chief minister said.
“Once again, we are taking forward the free food grains distribution programme under the National Food Security Act. About 80 crore people in the country will benefit under this scheme and 15 crore in UP,” he added.
Highlighting the COVID-19 management, the chief minister said that India had done the best management of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the world and Uttar Pradesh had done the best management in the country.
“During the coronavirus period, from April 2020 to December, the prime minister rolled out the food distribution campaign. At the same time, in the months of April, May, and June, the state government also provided free food grains to 15 crore people,” he said.
The chief minister further said that in 2021, after the second wave, the UP government introduced a scheme under which free food grains were delivered from Ramnavami to Diwali, almost seven months. “At the same time, the state government also distributed food grains to the needy in June, July and August. Since we have the double engine government in UP, people can take food grains twice a month from this Diwali to Holi,” he added.
Mentioning the benefits of the double-engine government, the chief minister said that the double-engine government did the work of providing free vaccines, free treatment, free tests and free food grains during the entire pandemic. “This is the reason that coronavirus was eliminated from the state of Uttar Pradesh having a population of 25 crore,” he said.
The chief minister appealed to the people to take the Covid vaccine if they were still to get it as this was the best method to get protection from novel coronavirus. He added that the state government was fully prepared to face the third wave of the virus.
“Now, even pregnant women should get the (Covid) vaccine on the advice of their doctor. Don't be deceived by anyone,” he said.
Attacking the Samajwadi Party, Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party, the chief minister said that some people spread propaganda against the Covid vaccine but secretly took the vaccine jab at home. “But they continue to spread vicious propaganda so that the poor are not benefited. We will continue to work to save lives and livelihoods,” he added.
It is worth noting that over 15 crore ration card users in Uttar Pradesh will receive double-free rations under the extended ration distribution campaign. The scheme, under which each beneficiary will get about 10 kg of food grain and oil under two separate schemes, will continue till Holi 2022. The distribution of ration will take place through a network of 80,000 fair price shops across the state.