Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil on Monday directed the UT Administration to ensure all necessary arrangements for the effective implementation of Congress’ landmark Food Security Act in the union territory of Chandigarh.
After public hearing session on Monday, the UT Administrator held a meeting with senior UT officials and reviewed the progress of projects including implementation of Food Security Act, metro project, construction of Beant Singh Memorial Sector 42, Kajauli water works among others.
During the meeting, Patil asked the senior UT officials to ensure that the Food Security Act is implemented effectively in the union territory of Chandigarh and eligible people gets the benefit of this.
Notably, President Pranab Mukherjee had on September 12 approved Food Security Bill, making it a law. Earlier, the lok Sabha had passed the bill on August 26 while the Rajya Sabha cleared it on September 2.
Based on National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) Consumption Expenditure Survey data for 2011-12, the Planning Commission has estimated that 38.54 percent of the rural and 47.26 percent of urban population of Chandigarh will get covered under the Food Security Act. About 5 lakh people in the city are likely to become entitled to subsidised food under the Food Security Act. Entitled person under the scheme will receive 5 kg of food grains per month i.e. Rice, Wheat or coarse grain at Rs 3, Rs 2 and Re 1 per kg respectively. The poorest of the poor will continue to get 35 kg foodgrains per household per month under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).
As per the census 2011 figures, the urban city of Chandigarh spreading over an area of 114 sq km has a total population of 1055450 people including 28991 rural and 1026459 urban population.The city has 97.25 percent population living in urban areas and 2.74 percent living in rural areas. A senior official of the UT Administration said, “UT Administrator reviewed the progress of projects like metro, Beant Singh memorial and others.