The State Government has extended the period for making ration cards under the National Food Security Scheme and the State Food Security Scheme till October 15. Those wishing to make ration cards under these schemes can approach the District Food and Civil Supply Offices to procure the cards till October 15, say the food officials.
Things followed after Chief Minister Harish Rawat held a meeting with the state food and civil supply officers on Tuesday and directed them to ensure that those wishing to make ration cards to avail such schemes should be given more time by extending the deadline. In course of the meeting, the officials informed the CM that many of the intended beneficiaries have been left out from the national food security scheme.
Rawat asked them to extend the deadline till October 15 regarding procurement of the required ration cards to ensure that none of the intended beneficiaries was left out.
The officers were directed to complete digitalization of all ration cards by October 31. CM Rawat directed the department officers to draft a work plan to install biometric at the public distribution system outlets and a proposal regarding the same should be sent to the Central Government for its approval in the execution of the plan.
It should be mentioned here that the people who have not been covered under national food security scheme can procure new ration cards to avail state food security scheme. However, as per the government officials, those whose income is of more than Rs five lakh per annum will not be issued any ration card meant to help avail the schemes.
Notably, Central government stipulated while launching the national food security scheme that those whose monthly income is less than or equal to `15, 000 would be entitled to avail the scheme.
Following the same pattern, the state government also launched state food security scheme, announcing that those whose income stands less than or equal to `5 lakh per annum are eligible to collect the new ration cards to avail SFSS.