nChhattisgarh ensured food security for everyone during the Corona-induced lockdown, issuing plenty of new ration cards and seeing to it that no one went hungry amid the crisis.
At the same time, every possible facility was provided to the migrant workers and others who were displaced. Arrangements were made to provide food in community kitchens. Slippers were given to the needy.
The government gave away food and dry ration to the migrant workers, destitute and needy people, an official communication said on Monday.
During the lockdown, new ration cards were issued to the remaining eligible families. From March 2020 to January 2021, 192,338 new ration cards were issued and names of 233,415 new members were added. This process continues.
After the implementation of universal PDS by the Chhattisgarh government, foodgrains are provided to 97 percent of the population.
During the lockdown, free rice was distributed to the 57 lakh Antyodaya, Priority, Annapurna, Single destitute and Disabled ration card holders during April, May and June 2020.
A total of 564,087 tonnes of rice were made available free to these families in the three months.
In addition, these card holders were distributed per member 5 kg rice and one kg gram free by the government from April to November 2020. In June, one kg of arhar dal was provided free.
In this way, 865,984 tonnes of extra rice and 45,781 tonnes of additional gram and pulses were provided free from April to November last year.
From April to November 2020, 789,804 tonnes of rice and 41,200 tonnes of gram and pulses were distributed to each member figuring in National Food Security Act Antyodaya and Priority Ration cards.
The availability of two quintals of rice was ensured in every gram panchayat to help the needy during the lockdown.
To ensure availability and supply of essential commodities, regular monitoring of daily market prices and adequate availability of essential commodities was done through the price monitoring cell.