Distribution of wheat and pulses to the beneficiaries Antodya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) will be started in two days. Disclosing this here today Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Food and civil supplies minister Punjab said that in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, as a pro active initiative, Punjab Government decided to ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor due to economic distruption and has decided to provide additional foodgrains allocation @ 5 Kg/person/month free of cost for three months i.e. April- June, 2020 to all the beneficiaries (AAY and PHH) category covered under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) as per provisions of NFSA.He further said that in addition to this, pulses @ 1Kg /family/month free of cost for three months are also being distributed.Accordingly, Govt. of Punjab has allocated 212164 M.T.s of wheat and 10800 M.T. of pulses for distribution to the beneficiaries (AAY and PHH) and the distribution for the pulses will be started in two days after the receipt of same from NAFED.The Minister said that Government of Punjab will cover approx. 1,41,44,291 beneficiaries which will ensure that almost 50 percent of the State population is covered within the ambit of this scheme.
Mr. Ashu said that the Biometric authentication of the beneficiaries has been done away with so as to avoid the spread of the contagion. This additional allocation is totally FREE OF COST and is over and above the regular allocation. Government of Punjab has already distributed 6 month wheat quota for October, 2019 to March, 2020 to beneficiaries covered under NFSA. The Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department is dedicated to ensure food security to the people of Punjab and to the rest of the Nation and is working ceaselessly for the same amidst such trying circumstances.