Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday heaped praise on Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for having changed the face of the national Capital. Speaking on the launch of ambitious food security scheme on the birth anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi at Talkatora Stadium, Gandhi said the way the Delhi Government, under the leadership of CM Sheila Dikshit, changed the face of Delhi in the last 15 years is exemplary.
“You yourself can feel the difference between the Delhi of today and what it was 15 years back,” Gandhi said, adding that development done by the Dikshit Government in Delhi is beyond comparison as the Government feels and cares for its people.
The Congress chief also said the Delhi Government has ensured a better quality of life by improving basic amenities and initiating 'pro-people' policies.
Among others, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Prof KV Thomas, Delhi’s Food and Civil Supplies Department Minister Harun Yusuf, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Jai Prakash Agarwal and other senior Congress leaders were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Dikshit described the launch Food Security Programme in Delhi as a historic day. Dikshit announced that from September 1 onward, 32 lakh people in Delhi would be getting rice at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg.
“The city Government will achieve the target to cover 73 lakh people by December or January,” she said. Terming it a historic decision of the UPA Government to give empowerment to women, the Chief Minister said that India is the only country which is going to implement Right to Food through women empowerment. “The Right to Food would also accelerate the pace of women empowerment,” Dikshit said.
The CM added that the households under BPl category would get wheat at Rs 2 per kg against existing rate of Rs 4.80, rice at Rs 3 per kg against present rate of Rs 6.30 per kg, Jhuggis resettlement colonies categories to get wheat at Rs 2 per kg against existing Rs 7.05 and rice at Rs 3 per kg against Rs 9.25 per kg.
“There will be no change in rates in respect of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category households. Households under AAY categories would get 35 kg of food grains per month whereas remaining eligible households say priority household would receive 5 kg food grains per person per month. Till the completion of the process of identification of eligible households, the households presently getting ration would continue to get ration at the existing rate and quantity,” Dikshit said.
The Chief Minister further stated that the UPA Government at the Centre has provided many rights such Right to Information, Right to Education and now Right to Food. The Right to Food is an extraordinary legal right which is being granted to people as per thoughts and commitment of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “We are grateful to the Congress president for taking care of crores of poor people in the country,” she said.
The distribution of food grains would be effected through Aadhar-based National Food Security cards. Delhi has already enrolled 98 per cent of its population under Aadhar. Nobody should remain deprived of Aadhar number. Dikshit deplored the political parties, which are opposing Food Security Bill in Parliament. The UPA is committed to get it passed by Parliament.
Dikshit also stated that the programme provides for maternity benefit at least Rs 6,000 to the pregnant women in all districts. Presently, it is Rs 4000 and is restricted in only two districts of Delhi. Every child up to the age of 14 years shall have the entitlement for nutritional needs through anganwadi centres and Mid-Day Meal scheme in the schools.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Harun Yusuf attacked the Opposition parties for opposing the Bill. “They are those people who had earlier opposed the computerisation programme of Rajiv Gandhi,” Yusuf said, adding that the Delhi Government is a sensitive Government that's why it has decided to sale onion at cheaper price to bring down the prices across the city.