Poor should get timely ration under Public Distribution System – Mool Chand Sharma

Delhi/Ncr, June 27 , 2024 – Haryana Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister, Sh. Mool Chand Sharma directed the officers to ensure that underprivileged people receive their ration on time under the Public Distribution System and said that any negligence in this matter will not be tolerated. New depots should be opened wherever necessary, but it must be ensured that no depot holder has a monopoly in depot allocation.

Sh. Mool Chand Sharma chaired a review meeting with the department’s officers today. He emphasised that the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department is a prominent department, and maintaining its credibility is the responsibility of all the officers. He also stated that headquarters officers must ensure that the tender process for purchasing POS machines is completed as soon as possible.

During the meeting, it was informed that the National Food Security Act, 2013, was implemented in the state on August 20, 2013, covering Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families and priority household (PHH) beneficiaries. The state has 2.92 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana ration cards and 43.33 lakh BPL cards. Under the National Food Security Act, the state currently requires 98 thousand metric tons of grain per month, with the Government of India allocating 66,250 metric tons of wheat and the remaining 31,000 metric tons of wheat being borne by the state government at its own expense. Under the Act, Antyodaya Anna Yojana families receive 35 kg of wheat, and BPL families receive 5 kg of wheat per member. Verified families with an annual income of Rs.1.80 lakh under the Parivar Pehchan Patra receive 2 litres of mustard oil under the state government’s “Antyodaya Aahar Yojana”. The state government spends Rs. 89 crore on wheat, Rs. 95 crore on mustard oil, and Rs. 11.13 crore on sugar monthly, said the Minister.It was also informed in the meeting that during the 2023-24 Kharif season, Haryana contributed 58.94 lakh metric tons of paddy to central storage, and during the Rabi season, 69.06 lakh metric tons of wheat. Since 2021-22, food grains have been procured at minimum support prices through the e-kharid portal, with payments being made directly to the farmers’ accounts. The Minister also directed the timely lifting of crop purchases in the Mandis should be ensured.

Additional Chief Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, Director Sh. Mukul Kumar and other officers of the department remained present during the meeting.