Delhi First State To Get Food Security Scheme

The food security scheme will come into force from Sep 1,2013 and will initially cover 32.27 lakh people - about 20% of Delhi’s population - which currently gets wheat, rice and sugar at subsidised rates through the public distribution system

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




Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said her govt ultimately aims at providing food security to 73.5 lakh people, i.e. 44% of Delhi’s total population. “We have made all necessary arrangements to implement the scheme,” Dikshit said

The beneficiaries include people -

• getting ration through PDS under the Antodaya
• below poverty line
• jhuggi ration card (JRC) and
•  resettlement colonies ration cards (RCRC) schemes

The Delhi Govt has also decided to include homeless people, daily wage-earners, rag-pickers as well as people living in resettlement colonies and slum clusters in the first phase of the implementation of the scheme
No income tax payers, vehicle and house owners will be included in the scheme in the first phase, officials said

The second and final phase of the scheme will be launched in February 2014


Note

1)Lok Sabha passes Food Security Bill Monday Aug 26,2013

2)Rajya Sabha Passes Food Bill by Voice vote Monday Sep 2,2013

3)Food Security Bill Gets President Assent Thursday Sep 12,2013

4)Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries are to be able to purchase 5 kilograms per eligible person per month of cereals at the following prices -

• Rice at Rs3/kg
• Wheat at Rs 2/kg
• Coarse Grains at Re 1/kg