State Food and Civil Supply department has distributed 65,945 out of total 8,26,781 new ration cards under National Food Security Scheme to the intended beneficiaries till February 24.
The Central Government has approved quota of food grains for beneficiaries under the scheme recently and with the release of food grains, the beneficiaries will be given ration from first week of April, said State Cabinet Minister Pritam Singh. It may be mentioned here that under the scheme, intended beneficiaries would get five kilos of food grain comprising three kilos of rice and two kilos of wheat per person for Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg respectively.
Below Poverty line (BPl) and Antyodaya card holders were included in the scheme and the Above Poverty line (APl) card holders with a monthly income of Rs 15,000 under the scheme. Though the State Government had launched National Food Security Scheme in August 20 last year setting November 9 as the deadline for its implementation, this scheme is yet to be implemented.
As per report received from the department, a total of 65,945 new ration cards under the scheme were distributed so far.
In Dehradun district, around 15, 000 out of total 1.48 lakh new ration cards were distributed while 10, 379 out of total 20, 143 cards were distributed in Chamoli; 4, 069 out of 96, 000 cards in Nainital, 4, 158 out of total 33, 596 cards in Almora, 3, 157 out of 21, 718 in Bageshwar, 5, 498 out of 1, 39, 373 in Udham Singh Nagar, 6, 238 out of 36, 358 in Tehri and 11, 935 out of 1, 76, 111 in Haridwar while 200 new ration cards have been distributed in Champawat and 209 in Pauri by the department so far.
Beneficiaries under the scheme have been selected based on guidelines issued by the Central and State governments. Beneficiaries of old age pension, widow pension, physically handicapped persons, rickshaw drivers, porters, daily wagers, sanitation workers, cobblers, blacksmiths, carpenters, village craftsmen, domestic helpers and others were given priority while selecting the beneficiaries under the scheme.
Critics opined that with the lok Sabha elections and Panchayat elections approaching nearer, the state government has started distributing new ration cards under the scheme.