Sonia Gandhi launches Food Security Scheme in Delhi Tuesday Aug 20,2013

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit present a food security ration card to a beneficiary at a function to launch the National Food Security Scheme in New Delhi on Tuesday Aug 20,2013

Despite the delay in passage of the Food Security Bill in Parliament, the ambitious programme was launched by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday with the promise that it would reach two-thirds of the country’s 125-crore population and provide them with grain at subsidised rates.

Hailing the scheme as an “unparalleled” one in the world, as it aims to feed every poor person in the country, Ms. Gandhi said: “We have people who still do not get food and there are malnourished children in the country. That is why we made such a law so that nobody goes hungry and no child sleeps without food.”

Sonia Gandhi unveiled the scheme by handing over 5-kg grain packets and Aadhaar-based smart cards to 12 women

Note
The food security programme would provide subsidised grains for 67 per cent of the population and would see government spending an estimated Rs. 1,25,000 crore to supply 62 million tonnes of grains

 Under the scheme, beneficiaries would get wheat at Rs. 2 a kg, rice at Rs. 3 a kg and coarse grain at Rs. 1 a kg