Distributed 42.48 lakh quintal of food grains, worth Rs.980-cr, free-of-cost, to 92% of population: Gujarat govt

Gandhinagar(Information department release):  In an unique feat, Gujarat Government distributed 42.48-lakh quintal of food grains, with market value of Rs.980-crore, free-of-cost, to cover 90 per cent of the state’s population during the lockdown in the wake of global pandemic novel coronavirus COVID-19.

This included 12 lakh quintal of wheat, 5 lakh quintal of rice, 70,000 quintal pulses, 78,000 quintal salt, totaling 19.38 lakh quintal. Similarly 6.80 lakh quintal of food grains, including 4.50 lakh quintal of wheat, 1.40 lakh quintal rice, 45,000 quintal sugar and rest pulses, were distributed to 45 lakh (out of total 60-lakh) APL-1 card holders, were also distributed free-of-cost.

It was after Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced that food grains be distributed free to the workers and needy due to suspension of economic activity during the lockdown. He directed that no person in the state should go to bed hungry due to lockdown.

This massive task was achieved by distributing the food grains through 17,000 fair price shops within 15 days of clamping lockdown on March 25 by the staff of Food & Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs Department, State Civil Supplies Corporation, district and taluka level civil supplies machinery.

Mr. Rupani announced on April 13 that the next lot of adequate food grains for the month of April, 2020 will be distributed to 60-lakh APL-1 card holders, comprising middle class, free-of-cost. He had simultaneously appealed to the affluent among middle class to let go their share from APL card for the more needy people.

In another compassionate move, the Chief Minister had directed the administration to ensure the local and migrant workers without job, who do not have ration cards, also get adequate quantity of wheat, rice, sugar, pulses and salt. They numbered about 5-lakh. And their list is with respective district collectors.

Under the Annbrahm Scheme 14190 quintals of wheat, 6390 quintals of rice, 4260 quintal of sugar and 4260 quintals of pulses, in total foodgrains weighing 29100 quintals market valued at Rs. 8.63-crore was distributed among labourers and poor people.

In the prevalent situation of Coronavirus, from April 5, 2020, the Chief Minister had initiated distribution of essential commodities to 3.40 lakh BLP families, who were not covered under the national food security act and otherwise entitled only to avail sugar and salt on their cards, through 17,000 PDS shops across the state.

With a view to provide financial support to the poor families availing benefits of NFSA scheme, the chief minister had deposited Rs. 1,000 in bank account of each individual of total 50.52 lakh beneficiaries of Chief Minister Poor’s Welfare Scheme. So far, total amount deposited was of Rs. 505-crore. With extension of lockdown period, Mr. Rupani decided to provide, second time, 3.50 kg of wheat and 1.50 kg of rice at free of cost per person of 66 lakh NFSA card holder families. Between April 25-29, 11.80 lakh quintal of wheat and 5 lakh quintal of rice in total worth of Rs. 357-crore were distributed.

The Chief Minister also thanked the karmayogis and beneficiaries in maintaining the social distancing during the distribution of foodgrains, which fulfilled his aim that no individual should be deprived of foods during this testing time.