Delhi food security scheme to benefit 32 lakh

Phase I: BPL, APL, jhuggi card holders; those under Antodaya Anna Yojana to be included

July 27, 2013 01:38 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 10:15 pm IST - NEW DELHI:

A NEW VISION: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit along with her Cabinet colleagues at a press conference on Food Security Scheme in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena.

A NEW VISION: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit along with her Cabinet colleagues at a press conference on Food Security Scheme in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena.

The ambitious Food Security Scheme that is slated to make Delhi “hunger-free” and also the first State in the country to implement this national programme will benefit 44 per cent of the city’s population and bring 32 lakh people from the most vulnerable households under its purview, said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit while announcing its timeline and details on Friday.

Flanked by her Cabinet colleagues, Ms. Dikshit said her Government had finalised the scheme’s modalities and identified eligible households. A total of 73.5 lakh people, of the city population of 1.68 crore, will benefit from the scheme. In the first phase, all BPL families, Above Poverty Line (APL) card holders, Jhuggi Ration Card (JRC) holders and beneficiaries under Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) will be included.

“Geographically, socially and occupationally vulnerable groups such as residents of slum, resettlement colonies of F,G and H categories, notified abadi in rural village, shelter-less persons, transgenders, households with disable people, single women, children living without protection, ragpickers, unskilled construction workers, porters, casual daily wagers, and cycle rickshaw pullers will all be eligible under the scheme,” said Ms. Dikshit.

While households having annual income of less than Rs.1 lakh per annum will be eligible, no income tax payers, vehicle and house owners, government employees or any household with an electricity connection of above 2 KW are eligible under the scheme.

Under the scheme, households will get wheat at Rs.2/kg, rice at Rs.3/kg and coarse grain at Rs.1/kg. There will be no change in rates with respect to AAY categories households. These households will get 35 kg of food grains per month whereas the remaining eligible household or priority households will receive 5 kg food grains per person per month.

“Till the completion of the process of identification of eligible households, those presently getting ration will continue to get it at the existing rate and quantity. The Cabinet has approved the process of identification which is scientific and transparent,” said Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf. He said ‘Food Security Smart Cards’ will be issued by the Government and it will be linked to the Aadhar data to avoid duplication and prevent pilferage. The Capital has over 92 per cent coverage of Aadhar, he said.

The Delhi Government will also receive applications from eligible households in more than 200 places, including Food and Supplies Department and Gender Resource Centres. “The Public Grievance Commission will function as the ‘Food Security Commission’ for the time being and soon a separate committee will be formed,” said Ms. Dikshit. A call centre with a four digit number 1967 and a toll-free number 1800 110 841 will be set up to answer queries and register complaints.

She clarified that her Government will continue implementation of the Dilli Annashree Yojana. The ‘Food Security Scheme’ will be rolled out on August 20, though beneficiaries will only start getting benefits from September 1. The second and final phase of implementation of the scheme will be launched in February next year.

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