Punjab launches 'Atta-Dal Scheme' on Independence Day

Chandigarh, Aug 14 (UNI) On the occasion of the 61st Independence Day, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will launch the ambitious 'Atta-Dal Scheme' after the state level function at the Guru Nanak Stadium at Ludhiana tomorrow.

The rulig Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its alliance partner had in the election manifesto promised to provide 'atta' (wheat flour) and 'dal' (pulses) to the poor at subsidised rates. The scheme has been modified and now instead of wheat flour, the government would provide wheat (grains) to the beneficaries.

The scheme was to be launched on April 13 this year but due to the delay in the identification of the beneficaries on the bases of their income delayed it. The government after identifying the beneficaries is now all set to launch the scheme tomorrow.

For the successful implementation of the scheme, a special cell has been created in the department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs to monitor the distribution of food-grains under the scheme. The cell would also ensure that the food grains reach the actual beneficiaries.

The cell would also keep a tag of the quantity, quality and cost of the foodgrains.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesman said the administration in all 20 districts of the state would also monitor the distribution of food grains under this scheme.

The distribution of the food grains would be done by the Food and Civil Supply Department through the existing 14,250 ration depots and Cooperative Societies across the state. Approximately 14 lakh beneficiary families were identified including 8 lakh SC families after a detailed survey.

The eligible families are those with an annual income of less than Rs 30,000. The survey was conducted under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioners.

Special blue ration cards have been issued to the beneficiaries to draw wheat and dal from depots. Under the Scheme, wheat will be distributed at the scale of 7 Kg per family member to a maximum of Rs 35 Kg to a family at the rate of Rs 4 per Kg.

Three varieties of pulses, which include Channa, Moong and Urd would be distributed at the scale of one kg per family member to a maximum of four Kg to a family at the rate of Rs 20 per Kg. The distribution would be on a monthly bases.

UNI