The Advance Central Assistance worth Rs. 50.06 crore towards the due margin money of wheat to be distributed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for the year 2023-24 in the State and the Inter State Transportation, has been transferred to the State exchequer and the State Government has promptly this 50 percent share to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.
This was disclosed by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak during a meeting with the representatives of the Ration Depot Holders Association regarding their demands. The Minister said that he has further directed the officers of the department to initiate the process of releasing due margin money to the depot holders for the distribution cycle April to June 2023, within a week.
The Minister also added that the claims pertaining to the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojna are being sent to the Union Government as the scheme is 100 percent centrally sponsored. He expressed hope that the amount would be released to the depot holders in a week's time. The Minister reiterated that the Punjab Government is totally committed to safeguard the legitimate interests of the depot holders.
Among others present on the occasion included President, Ration Depot Holders Association, Punjab, Surinder Singh Chhinda, Senior Vice President Rampal Mahajan, Sanjeev Kumar Sharma Laadi, Manmohan Arora, Baldev Raj Pathankot, President District Patiala Sudarshan Mittal, Baljeet Mahajan, Kapil Sharma, Vinod Kumar, Gurinder Singh Amritsar, Pawan Sujanpur, Vijay Kumar and Balvir Chand.