Around four months have passed since launching of National Food Security Scheme by the State Government, the process of issuing new ration cards to the intended beneficiaries under the scheme is yet to be started in the State.
Uttarakhand Food and Civil Supply Minister Pritam Singh said that the process of selecting intended beneficiaries under the scheme has been completed in few districts. The Central Government has given some time to the State Government for the implementation of this scheme. After completion of selection process, State will demand ration for newly registered ration card holders from the Central Government.
“I am not in a position to tell you about the month when the scheme will be implemented across the State,” he added. State Food and Civil Supply additional secretary Ravinath Raman said that around 85 per cent works related to identification of intended beneficiaries in various districts have been completed.
District officers have been directed to complete identification of beneficiaries soon so that process of releasing new ration cards under the scheme could be started in the State. The data of intended beneficiaries will be made in soft copy and it will be sent to central government for the release of food grains under the scheme. Though, Central Government has given some times to the States for the implementation of the scheme. In regards to progress on implementation of this scheme, Uttarakhand stood second position among States, he added.
Recently Dehradun Chief Development Officer Jyoti Neeraj Kharwal said that around 80 per cent of works related selection of intended beneficiaries under the scheme have been completed and remaining works will soon be completed. Indented beneficiaries are being selected in the open meeting organised at gram panchayat level under the supervision of Government official in the district.
The photography of houses of intended beneficiaries is being done in Municipal Corporation area only, she added. It may be mentioned here that after launching this scheme, the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had distributed ration kits to 100 women beneficiaries and said that under the scheme, the poor 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.
BPl and Antyodaya card holders were included in the scheme and the APl section having monthly income Rs 15,000 will also benefit after providing them new ration card under the scheme.