The Delhi Government is bringing a Cabinet note on Monday for implementation of the food security scheme from September 1.
The scheme will be launched on August 20 by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and all eligible ones will get foodgrain at notified rates from September 1. With Delhi being the first State where the programme will be rolled out, the scheme can act as a game-changer for the Congress as it will benefit more than 50 per cent of the State population.
Top sources told The Pioneer that the Cabinet note prepared by the Food and Civil Supplies Department has been circulated and it would be discussed at the Cabinet meeting on Monday.
In the first phase itself, the Ordinance has targeted around 32.37 lakh people, who will be the direct beneficiaries of the ambitious scheme, while the second phase will be taken up as soon as possible and may overlap with Phase I activities.
According to the department's note, Phase I would cover 32.37 lakh people or 5,21,737 families belonging to below poverty line (BPl), Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY), Jhuggi Ration Card (JRC) and Resettlement Colony Ration Card (RCRC) categories.
At present, there are 1,03,421 families with AAY category ration cards, while 2,62,743 families are BPl card-holders. About 1,15,867 families have RCRC, while 40,506 families have JRC.
The household head will soon be called in by the Food Security Officer for her photograph. A copy of Aadhaar cards of all family members will be required, along with an affidavit that the family does not fall in any of the excluded categories. The Aadhaar numbers will be printed in the card and used as tool to avoid duplication,” said an official on the condition of anonymity.
The Government will also give preference to residents of slums, resettlement colonies of F, G and H categories, residents of notified village abadis in rural villages, homeless, household with disabled people, household with people who suffer from debilitating and ailments like HIV, TB and leprosy, single women living as dependent or recognised as head of household, occupationally vulnerable groups like rag-pickers, unskilled construction workers, porters, casual and daily wagers and cycle-rickshaw drivers
Those having four-wheeled vehicles, a house or land in Delhi or any regular colony and any member of her family paying income tax, will not be eligible for the food security programme.