New food security scheme for the poor from Dec. 15

Initially two lakh Delhi families to be paid Rs. 600 per month

United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi has been urged by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to inaugurate the Dilli Annashree Yojana food security scheme under which initially about two lakh families would be paid a sum of Rs. 600 per month from December 15.

The Delhi Government, which had set aside Rs. 150 crore for this scheme in its annual Budget, said on Thursday that this is the first such initiative by any State government to go beyond the traditional definition of poverty and provide citizens with food security through cash transfers.

In Delhi, the ambit of the scheme is also being expanded from the existing four lakh BPL/AAY ration card holders to cover six lakh vulnerable households that have been identified through a survey based on new scientific parameters.

A Government note said about two lakh households will be getting a monthly amount of Rs 600 from April 1, 2012.

It added that on launch of the scheme on December 15, the accounts of the beneficiary families would directly be credited with a sum of Rs 4,800, comprising assistance for the last eight months.

The Government said the scheme would thus facilitate transfer of cash benefit direct to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries using Aadhar-enabled no-frill bank accounts.

“Apart from completely eliminating the leakages in the current Public Distribution System, the new scheme would provide an option to spend the money as per the need. Large number of families putting up in the slum areas, resettlement colonies and JJ clusters would benefit with this scheme,” it added.

The implementation of the scheme is being done through the Samajik Suvidha Sangam or Mission Convergence and the money would be transferred into the account of the senior most woman member of the beneficiary household.

The Delhi Government claimed that it has facilitated opening of such accounts on the mere presentation of a copy of Aadhar card and hence there would be no requirement of submitting address proof or arranging an introducer for the accounts.

The government has tied up with the six major banks for this purpose.

In all, 827 branches would be operating the accounts in which the financial assistance would be transferred.