Under the Atma Nirbhar Scheme, the Punjab government has decided to provide ration to those persons who are not covered under the smart card scheme of the state government. Under this scheme, more than 14.15 lakh persons would be covered in Punjab.This scheme was formally launched on behalf of Punjab Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu by his wife and MC Councillor Mrs Mamta Ashu. Ludhiana (East) MLA Mr Sanjay Talwar was the guest of honour on the occasion. ADC (Development) Mrs Amrit Singh, MC Joint Commissioner Mrs Swati Tiwana, DFSCs Mr Sukhwinder Singh Gill and Miss Harveen Kaur were also present on the occasion. While speaking on the occasion, Mrs Mamta Ashu said that the Punjab government has decided to provide free ration to needy persons, labourers, migrant labourers, registered labourers and brick kiln workers who are not covered under the smart card scheme of the state government. The beneficiaries would be identified by the District Administration.Under the Atma Nirbhar scheme, each needy person would be distributed 10 kg atta, one kg pulses (daal) and one kg sugar per person. Under this scheme, along than migrant labourers, registered labourers/brick kiln workers have also been included. They said that around 14.15 lakh persons would be covered under this scheme in the state, out of which 5.86 lakh would be from district Ludhiana alone.
During the lockdown/curfew due to COVID 19 pandemic, under the Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY), free ration has been provided to around 36.6 lakh ration card beneficiary families and around 1.41 crore beneficiary persons have been provided free 15 Kg wheat per member and 3 Kg pulses per family under scheme for a period of three months.She said that the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department Punjab is committed in supplying all essential commodities to the residents. She said that even ration kits containing 10 kg atta, 2 kg pulses, 2 kg sugar have also been prepared by the department and around 17 akh such kits have been distributed in different parts of the state to non smart card scheme beneficiaries and to migrant workers. Mrs Mamta Ashu said that the department is working hard to ensure that ration reaches every needy person on time and no person sleeps hungry. She informed that in district Ludhiana alone, more than 6 lakh such kits were distributed.She said that to ensure that the needy persons get food grains on time, the 14145 MT of wheat allocated by the Union government to state was lifted from the FCI godowns by the Punjab government in a speedy manner. She informed that Punjab is the only state of the country, that distributed atta in place of wheat so that people do not suffer, besides instead of distributing daal (pulses) per family per month, the Punjab government provided daal per person per month.Ludhiana (East) MLA Mr Sanjay Talwar said that the Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab government is committed for the welfare of people from all sections of society. He said that several efforts have been made to assist the public during the testing times. He also specially thanked Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Cabinet Minister Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu for starting this scheme.Prominent among those present on the occasion included Mr Vijay Kalsi, Mr Vipan Vinayak, besides several others.