Food Minister requested to extend distribution of free food grains to poor families for three more months
Free of cost allotment of rice to migrant labourers in July month requested
Chhattisgarh’s PDS system is the best in the country, says Union Minister Mr. Paswan
Mr. Baghat participates in the video conference meeting chaired by Union Minister Mr. Ramvilas Paswan
Raipur, 18 June 2020. Food Minister Mr. Amarjeet Bhagat, during his discussion with Union Food Minister Mr. Ramvilas Paswan via video conferencing today, said that One Nation One Ration Card scheme will commence in Chhattisgarh from the month of August. He requested Union Food Minister to extend distribution of free of cost foodgrains to BPL families for three more months from July to September. Food Minister requested Union Minister to provide free of cost food grains to migrant labourers in July month as well. Food Minister informed that presently, migrant labourers are being provided free of food grains for the month of May and June. Union Food Minister Mr. Ramvilas Paswan praised the transparency in Public Distribution System of Chhattisgarh state. He said that PDS system of Chhattisgarh holds top rank in the country. Union Food Minister informed that the proposals of distributing food grains free of cost, under Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana, to BPL families for three more months and to migrant labourers in July month are under consideration. Mr. Paswan has assured of extending every possible support in the context.
Mr. Bhagat said that due to lockdown for prevention of corona virus infection, people and labourers in other states of the country are coming back to Chhattisgarh. These migrants were provided free of cost food grains in May and June under Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana. Mr. Bhagat requested to provide free of cost rice to these migrants in the month of July as well. He said that under National Food Security Act, Central Government has provided free of cost food grains to 51.50 lakh ration card holders in April, May and June. The corona crisis has not ended yet. Poor families are still struggling with livelihood. Mr. Bhagat informed that besides the aforementioned 51.50 lakh beneficiaries, nearly 14 lakh 10 thousand additional ration card holders under state scheme are being provided food grains by State Government at its own expenses. Mr. Bhagat requested that just like beneficiaries of National Food Security Act, benefciaries of state schemes should also be provided free of cost food grains for next three months. Mr. Bhagat told that during lockdown, 73 thousand new ration cards have been issued, which should be recognized under National Food Security Act as well. Mr. Bhagat thanked Union Food Minister on behalf of people of Chhattisgarh for expanding the limit of Chhattisgarh’s contribution of rice in central pool from 24 lakh metric ton to 28.1 lakh mentric ton. Food Department Secretary Dr Kamalpreet Singh and other officials also attended the video conference meeting.
