The Delhi Government will continue to supply sugar at subsidised rates to 3.6 lakh beneficiaries who are Below Poverty Line and Antodaya Anna Yojana card-holder families. On Monday, the Cabinet approved a mechanism to continue the existing facility – at the subsidised rate of Rs.13.50 per kg – even after the Union Government decided to abolish the levy on sugar.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who chaired the Cabinet meeting, said her Government will now procure 2,200 metric tonnes of sugar per month through the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation from the open market through competitive bidding. The Government will bear the price difference so as to ensure the existing rate of Rs.13.50 per kg.
Ms. Dikshit said her Government had been concentrating on the expansion of health care facilities across Delhi. The Cabinet had approved a 100-bed facility at Sarita Vihar which will be developed as per green building concepts and will provide round-the-clock emergency services, maternity services, surgical facilities and other specialty services, she added.
Further, the Cabinet had approved a 15 per cent hike in the remuneration of contractual employees of the Delhi State AIDS Control Society. The Government plans to release Rs.90 lakh per annum to pay the increased remunerations. There are 513 contractual employees who have been working for more than three to five years. Ms. Dikshit said the Society has been working to reduce the number of new HIV infections by 50 per cent and this will not have been possible without the hard work of thecontractual staff.
Since the present system for procuring medical equipment is creating obstacles, Ms. Dikshit, said the Cabinet has given its nod to engage HLL Lifecare Ltd, a Government of India enterprise, for procurement of medical equipment for government hospitals and medical institutions. She said that there was a need for an agency that has expertise and experience in procuring medical equipment.
