The Chhattisgarh Government is distributing Iodised salt (Amrut salt) free of cost to the poor citizens under the Public Distribution System (PDS), officials stated. The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department distributes two kg Iodized salt per family to about 61 lakh poor and Priority card-holders’ families in the State.
About 1.21 lakh quintal Iodine salt has been allocated for the month of February to all 27 districts. According to experts, Iodine consumption is essential for the development of brain and health. The daily intake of Iodine makes brain active and the body full of energy. The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department of the State Government is distributing Iodized salt packets ‘Amrut’ to the poor and needy. There are several benefits of the salt for the foetus and healthy delivery of the child and its mental development.
If a person does not take Iodine he gets tired soon, has less energy and production is also less. There are more chances of still birth, baby dying on birth, mental retardation of child, less alert, dumb and deaf child. Iodized salt should always be kept in a sealed box. The State Government has allotted more than 1.21 lakh quintals of iodised salt for distribution to ration card holders of ‘Antyoday’ and ‘Priority’ category in current month of February.
This allotment has been issued by Food and Civil Supply and Consumer Protection Department under Public Distribution System. In January month, the State Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Protection Department had allotted 1.22 lakh quintal iodized salt for free distribution under Public Distribution System (PDS) in all 27 districts of the State during the current month, officials stated.
This salt is distributed free of cost to ration card holder families of ‘Antyodaya’ and ‘Priority’ category in the State. Overall. the Chhattisgarh government under the PDS has released 2.48 lakh tonnes of various ration items for month of February. The allotment of ration is for all 27 districts, officials informed. The ration would be available in 10,100 fair price shops in the State and would be distributed among 64 lakh ration card holders, they said.
He informed that out of the total allotment 1.97 lakh tonnes rice, 20,178 tonnes wheat, 7,217 tonnes pulses, 4,918 tonnes gram, 6,067 tonnes sugar and 12,134 tonnes iodine salt has been released. Additional 12,096 kilo liter kerosene would be also distributed from February 1, he added. About 19.89 lakh quintals of rice was allocated to ration card holders during the current month under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
The government allocated 14.2 lakh quintals of rice to priority families among the ration card holders, 5,51,953 quintals to Antodaya families, 31,186 quintals to general category families, 2,996 quintals to the dependent families and 870 quintals to the differently abled families. Chhattisgarh’s unique PDS model now has gram panchayats, co-operative societies and women’s self help groups (SHGs) operating the fair price shops, officials stated.
Significantly, about 90 % of the masses are covered under Food and Nutrition Security Act was implemented in 2013. Chhattisgarh’s PDS under Antyodaya and Priority families schemes provides 35 kg foodgrains at Re 1 per kilo. Since June 2014 single member category ration card-holders under destitutes segment are provided 10 kg food grains free of cost.
The State government keeping in view nutrition security is providing -grams, pulses, sugar and Iodised salt. Antyodaya and Priority families get two kg salt free of cost, two kg grams at Rs 5 per kilo in Notified areas. In non-Notified areas two kg pulses at the rate of Rs 10 and one kg sugar at Rs 13 are distributed.
Under Antyodaya scheme most backward Tribes-Baiga, Birhor, PahadiKorva, Kamar, Abhujmadias, families headed by single female, and serious ,incurable patients-AIDS, Sickle cell anaemia, cancer, TB afflicted, families with old ,dependent, and those families whose head is freed from bonded labour-are included under Antyodaya scheme.
landless labour families ,small farmers upto five acres of land, unorganised labour like-barbers, shoe-makers, carpenters, washermen, rickshaw-pullers families, building construction labour -coolies and other menial workers, are included in the Priority list. It is interesting to note that Central Government also passed National Food Security Act 2013, which was implemented in January 2014. As per the Centre, 78.43 per cent ( 2 cr) population is covered under the subsidised food scheme, but under Chhattisgarh Food Security Act 91 % ( 2.32 crore) population are getting benefits.
Under the Food and Nutrition Security Act, hostels, ashrams, Anganwadis, are provided with subsidised foodgrains. About Rs 3844 crore 32 lakh is allocated in fiscal 2014-15 for the scheme. The transparency, location of fair price shops,details of distribution of ration through SMS, Rice Utsav in some ration shops every month, free call centres for consumers , were much appreciated at the national-level.
About 2.60 lakh tonnes food grains and 15,000 kilolitre kerosene oil are being distributed under the PDS. The State is spending Rs 4,640 crore per year on the scheme. ‘Meri Marji’ ( My Choice) scheme was started in March 2012 in which consumers can buy rations from the shops of their choice under the Core PDS system. It is in operation in eight cities-Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund,Raigarh, Ambikapur, Korba and Chirimiri-in 565 fair price shops . About Rs 1.75 crore is allocated in current fiscal 2014-15 to implement Core PDS in 290 fair price shops.
The ration shop owners are answerable to the consumers under the scheme. Chhattisgarh Core Public distribution System not only won many national awards but also was hailed at the national-level. Chhattisgarh’s Public Distribution System (PDS) has received all round praises for becoming a unique example for the country at the meeting of chief ministers with the Prime Minister in New Delhi , officials stated. Under State Government’s Public Distribution System, nearly 64.26 lakh ration card holder families in Chhattisgarh are availing the supply of ration at economic rates.