The Hindu : New Delhi News : Distribution of new ration cards for “poorest of the poor” begins

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Saturday, Sep 01, 2007
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New Delhi

Distribution of new ration cards for “poorest of the poor” begins

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Delhi probably the first State to implement AAY in real sense: Sheila

Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Personal touch: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit being hugged by a poor woman during the distribution of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Cards to the poorest families at a function in Delhi Secretariat on Friday.

NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at overcoming starvation and intensifying the “Garibi Hatao” programme, the Delhi Government on Friday began distribution of pink ration cards under the Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) for the poorest of poor families that had been identified out of Below Poverty Line (BPL) ones in the Capital.

The distribution process was inaugurated by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at a function organised at Delhi Secretariat. She said with the process getting under way now Delhi has become probably the first State to implement AAY in the real sense.

Under the programme, the pink ration cards will be distributed to around 1.5 lakh families within the next three months.

The holders of these ration cards will be entitled to 25 kg of wheat at Rs.2 per kg in place of the earlier rate of Rs.4.65; 10 kg rice at Rs.3 per kg instead of Rs.6.15 earlier; 6 kg of sugar at Rs.13.50; 2 kg of chana daal at Rs.26.38 per kg; 2 kg of arhar daal at Rs.22.74; and 22 litres of kerosene at Rs.9.09 per litre every month. The total cost of all these purchases would be Rs.458.

The Chief Minister said aged persons, widows and handicapped persons would also be treated as poorest of poor families under AAY. The Delhi Government would provide sufficient quantities of wheat, rice, sugar, pulses and kerosene through fair price shops under the programme and this would also help in curbing black marketing of PDS items. Stating that the poor families would now be able to get the essential commodities with ease at the lowest rates, Ms. Dikshit said the rates and quantity of the items to which these families are entitled would be prominently displayed at all fair price shops along with the telephone numbers of officers to be contacted in case of any complaint.

Describing the initiative as a new beginning for the welfare of the poorest of poor families, the Chief Minister said 35 per cent of the BPL families were identified for the scheme following a number of special drives and they have now been enlisted for issue of pink ration cards. She said just as irregularities in the operations of fair price shops had been curbed through checks in the past, now also the Delhi Government would not allow the poor to be cheated.

Food and Supplies Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said the Delhi Government is keen to include families living in slum clusters and rehabilitation colonies, which are above the BPL status, in the scheme and would take suitable step in this direction in a phased manner.

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