The State Government launched the National Food Security Scheme on August 20 with the intention to implement it across the State by November 9, the State Foundation Day. Three months after the launch of this scheme, the process of issuing new ration cards is yet to be started by the district officers in Dehradun and other districts of the State.
Uttarakhand Food and Civil Supply Minister Pritam Singh said, “I am not in a position to tell you about the date on which this scheme will be implemented across the State. District officers have been directed to complete the process for issuing new ration cards to the intended beneficiaries so that they can be benefited under the scheme,” he said.
To issue new ration cards under the scheme to only intended beneficiaries, the Central Government issued new guidelines giving one-year time to the States for implementing the scheme, he added. The Food and Civil Supply minister said, “With the deployment of department officials, new ration card forms have been distributed among residents and process of verification of the applicants is underway in the districts. But department officials are facing difficulties to find out intended beneficiaries under the scheme. Taking
cognisance of this, we have directed the district officers to ensure that they are taking all possible measures for the selection of only intended beneficiaries under the scheme in their districts.” He further said that not to leave any intended beneficiaries from this scheme, the district officers have been directed to consult local leaders while selecting the beneficiaries. They need to maintain transparency while issuing new ration card to the beneficiaries.
Dehradun district magistrate BVRC Purushottam said that around 60 per cent of works related to issuing new ration cards have been completed and remaining works are expected to be completed within a month. “We have already distributed new ration card forms among the residents. The officials had collected filled forms along with relevant documents from the beneficiaries. After conducting verification of applicants through district officials, new ration card will be issued to the intended beneficiaries in the district,” he added.
After launching this scheme, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had distributed ration kits to 100 women beneficiaries and said that under the scheme, the poor would get five kgs of foodgrain comprising three kgs rice and two kgs 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 annual income of Rs 15,000 will also benefit under the scheme.