29.9.13

Rajasthan set to implement Food Security Act

The Food Security Act (FSA), which promises heavily subsidized foodgrains to the poor, will be implemented in Rajasthan from October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti), chief minster Ashok Gehlot has announced.
From the state’s total population of 6.86 crore, 4.64 crore people will be benefitted by the Act as the government will provide wheat at Re 1 or Rs 2 per kg to them under the public distribution system. Incidentally, the state which is going to assembly polls in next two months has nearly 4.6 crore voters.
69.09% of the rural population and 53% of the urban population have been identified as beneficiaries. In this manner, another 50 lakh families have now been added to the scheme in addition to the beneficiaries of existing schemes such as the Antodaya Anna Yojana.
“Rajasthan will become the first state to implement the Act after completing the processes prescribed to identify the beneficiaries through gram panchayats and municipal wards. Appreciating our efforts, the Centre has now allotted us wheat for distribution,” Gehlot said at a press conference here. “The Act will ensure enough and quality foodgrain at low prices for the common man to live with dignity,” Gehlot said.
The Act will cover rural and urban poor as per Union BPL and state BPL lists, Antodaya families, Annapurna families, beneficiaries of various pension schemes and Mukhya Mantri Jeevan Raksha Kosh, those living in government hostels, construction and bonded labourers, domestic helps, small and marginal farmers and the poor included in several other state categories.
“The Act will also work towards women empowerment as the new ration cards will allow the senior most woman above 18 years to be identified as the family head. It is also dedicated to children as boys and girls between 6 months and 6 years of age would get nutritious food through Anganwadi centres,” Gehlot pointed out. 

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