Ranchi: Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Department, Secretary Amitabh Kaushal said, the achievements of the last 4 years of the schemes being implemented by the department is working seriously regarding food security. He was giving information today during a press conference in the auditorium of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations.
The departmental secretary said that a large population of the state is being covered under various schemes of the Food Security Department. The department is working at various levels for the implementation of the schemes.
By incorporating innovation in the schemes, nutrition security is being provided to the people of the state to about 66 lakh beneficiary families and under the Sona Sobaran Dhoti/Lungi, Saree Distribution Scheme, Rs 10 is being given.
It is being made available to the poor people of the state at a subsidized rate. Keeping in view the need of nutrition of the people of the state, the State Food Security Scheme has been approved by the State Government. Under this, 5 kg rice per beneficiary per month is provided to the beneficiaries.
Under this scheme, initially the target of 15 lakh beneficiaries was set, which was later increased to 20 lakh. So far 33, 16,489 beneficiaries have been covered under this scheme. With the aim of purchasing paddy directly from the farmers, the state government has made extensive arrangements so that the farmers of the state can get the minimum support price of paddy.Adequate number of paddy procurement centers have been opened by the state government in all the districts as per requirement for paddy procurement.
harkhand State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. has been made the nodal agency for paddy procurement. A total target of 6.00 lakh MT has been set for paddy procurement in Kharif marketing season 2023-24.
In the Kharif marketing season 2023-24, it has been decided to pay a bonus to farmers at the rate of Rs 117 per quintal in addition to the minimum support price of Rs 2183 per quintal set by the Government of India with the aim of increasing and encouraging their income.
Biometric Based Procurement (Aadhaar based procurement system) has been implemented under Minimum Threshold Parameters (MTPs) under the Paddy Procurement Scheme from Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24, due to which, at the time of purchasing paddy from farmers at the procurement centers (Lamps/Packs), their Identity will be ensured by obtaining biometrics. With this, the real farmers will be able to get the benefits of the scheme and the possibility of middlemen in procurement will be negligible.
Under this scheme, one dhoti/lungi and one saree are distributed twice a year among 65, 98,574 beneficiary families covered by the National Food Security Act 2013 and Jharkhand State Food Security Scheme (JSFSS) at the rate of Rs 10/- per garment is being distributed.
In the financial year 2023-24, from the month of September, 2023, the Jharkhand government will provide 1 kilogram of gram dal at a subsidized rate of Rs. 1 per kilogram per month to about 65,98,574 families covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and Jharkhand State Food Security Scheme.
Under the PVTG Postman Scheme under the state, PVTG families covered under the National Food Security Act, under Antyodaya category, are provided free of cost 35 kg of food grains (rice) per family per month in closed packets at their residence.
Under the scheme, the work of packaging of food grains is done by the Sakhi Mandals of Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society of the Rural Development Department. Currently 74,597 PVTG families are being benefited under this scheme.
Under the National Food Security Act, food grains are being provided regularly to two categories namely Antyodaya Parivar (AAY) and Pre-Vocated Household Category (PHH).
Under the eligible household scheme, 5 kg food grains per member per month are provided to the beneficiaries and under Antyodaya Anna Yojana, 35 kg food grains per family per month are provided to the beneficiary families.
The target of covering beneficiaries under the Act is 2, 64, 25,385, against which at present 100 percent i.e. 2, 64, 25,385 beneficiaries are covered.
In the light of the guidelines of the Government of India, free food grains (rice and wheat) are being provided to the beneficiaries covered by NFSA from the month of January, 2023.
Keeping in view the Covid infection and its increasing side effects, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was launched during the Corona period.
Under this scheme, 5 kilograms of food grains (rice and wheat) per beneficiary per month were provided free of cost to the beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act.
The food grains provided to the beneficiaries under this scheme were in addition to the regular food grains provided under the National Food Security Act.
Under this scheme, through government food centers in the entire state, the needy people of the state like daily wage laborers, poor/indigent and other needy persons are given, Food is being provided on payment of Rs 5 only.
At present, food is being provided to the needy through 377 approved regular pulses and rice centres.
Antyodaya to previous families and Rs. Rs. Free low iodized salt is being distributed at a subsidized rate of Rs 1 per kg.
Beneficiary families of Jharkhand State Food Security Scheme have also been included under this scheme from the financial year 2022-23.
At present 65, 98,574 families are covered under the salt distribution scheme.
The Sugar Distribution Scheme is being implemented with a grant of Rs 18.50 per kg received from the Government of India.
Under this scheme, one kilogram of sugar is being made available to the Antyodaya families of the state every month at a subsidized rate.
8, 93,026 families are covered under this scheme in the state.
Digital Weighing Machines are being installed in all Public Distribution System shops.
So far, out of total 25,282 Public Distribution System shops, Digital Weighing Machines have been installed in 23,944 shops.
Installation work is being done in the remaining shops.
Pilot based distribution of food grains is being done through 4G network based e-POS machines in 50 Public Distribution System shops of West Singhbhum district and 07 Public Distribution System shops of Ramgarh district.
Distribution of food grains is being ensured by providing IRIS Scanner in about 1500 Public Distribution System shops in the state which have high percentage of biometric verification failure.
It has been decided to develop the Public Distribution System shops of the state as Common Service Center (CSC).
10 thousand Public Distribution System shops were identified for CSC, out of which so far 6,671 Public Distribution System shops have been developed as CSC.
This will increase the income of public distribution system shopkeepers. 318 shops converted as CSC are registered as DigiPay, 580 shops are registered as Digital Service Portal (DSP) and 802 shops are registered as eStore.
The need for renewal of license of public distribution system has been abolished.