The popular Atta-Dal scheme is all set to turn sweeter and hotter with the Punjab Government adding the flavours of tea and sugar to it from July.
“Capt Amarinder Singh Government will also provide sugar and tea under the Atta-Dal scheme from July along with the wheat and pulses, which are already being provided on subsidized rates,” said the state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan.
The scheme, scheduled to be launched next month under the new name of Smart Ration Card Scheme, was initially launched by the SAD-BJP combine in 2007 after coming to power in the state, and was used by its leaders to propagate the government as people-friendly in the run up to assembly polls.
The scheme, in fact, played a major role in catapulting the SAD-BJP combine to form successive government in 2012.
The Congress government’s attempt to move a step forward is being seen as an effort to woo the BPl (below poverty line) voters before the 2019 lok Sabha elections next year. With this, the Congress party will also fulfill another pre-poll promise it made before 2017 elections. Providing tea and sugar under Atta-Dal scheme is one of the main promises in the Congress manifesto.
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal had announced to introduce the “revamped and a new modified” Atta Dal Scheme in 2017 by providing smart ration cards to all beneficiary families, and also distributing subsidized tea leaves and sugar along with the wheat and pulses to BPl families, by sanctioning Rs 500 crore for the same.
Under the scheme, the sugar and tea leaves will be distributed at subsidized rates at as many as 16,738 fair price shops after linking all the beneficiaries with Aadhaar.
No less than 1.37 crore beneficiaries from as many 35.26 lakh families across the state would be covered under the targeted public distribution system (TPDS).
It has been learnt that the government will give half kilogram of pulses to every beneficiary at Rs 20 per kg, one kg sugar and 100 grams of tea at subsidized rates. The rates are yet to be decided, a senior Food and Civil Supplies Department official said.
MAXIMUM BOGUS BENEFICIARIES FROM MAJITHA
Minister Bhushan Bhushan Ashu alleged that nearly two lakh ‘fake’ Atta-Dal cards were made across the state during the SAD-BJP. “And the maximum number of fake cards were made in Majitha — the constituency of Bikram Majithia,” he added.
Ashu made it clear that strong action would be taken against the wrongful card holders.
A large number of bogus beneficiaries were found under the scheme, after which the Government decided to engage the Bharat Electronics limited, Broadcasting Engineering Consultants Indian limited, and Electronics Corporation of India limited to implement the computerization process of the scheme.
The Government has also ensured public distribution of ration through electronic point of sale (ePoS) devices using biometrics readers installed at fair price shops. In case of finger biometric failure due to any reason, the IRIS enabled identification would be done.
TPDS TO BE STRENGTHENED
To strengthen the public distribution system in the state, the state Food and Civil Supplies Department will soon advertise the vacancies of depot holders.
Ashu said that to ensure the efficient distribution of wheat and other products in the offing, it is a must that there is a fair price shop or depot in every village of the State.
To facilitate the same, the terms and conditions of opening a fair price shop are being revised and are being made more attractive. In line with this, the State Government has already enhanced, nearly doubled the commission or fair price margin of the depot holders.
