Punjab govts 'wheat-pulses scheme' off to a smooth start

Chandigarh , Aug 17 (UNI) As many as 9,667 depot holders lifted stocks of wheat and 'dal' (pulses) from warehouses from all over Punjab on the very first day (August 15) of the launch of the 'Atta Dal Scheme', which is now known as the 'Kanak (wheat) Dal Scheme'.

According to an official spokesman today, 48,256.89 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat and 4,835 mt of 'dal' had been stocked in warehouses, spread over all the 20 district of the state, for distribution under this scheme for the month of August.

The department of Food and Civil Supplies has activated its employees to ensure smooth distribution of wheat and dal to the eligible beneficiaries. He said that all Food Inspectors, District Food Supply Officers, District Food Controllers and Deputy Directors have been asked to ensure hassle-free distribution to the beneficiaries.

The Punjab Government had listed over 14 lakh families with income less than Rs 30,000 per annum for this scheme. All the eligible families had been issued blue cards.

These families would be issued subsided wheat and dal at the rate of Rs four and 20 per kg respectively. Over 14,250 depots had been assigned the task of distributing subsidised wheat and dal to the beneficiaries.

The spokesman said a special cell had been created at the state capital here with a nodal officer as incharge to monitor the complaints, if any from, all the districts.

UNI