BPL card holders may get Rs 1,000 for food

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday said her government is considering to offer an option of Rs 1,000 per month as cash transfer to BPL card holders for procuring their foodgrains.

This will enable people below poverty line to purchase foodgrains of their choice without the need to visit ration shops continously to inquire availability of foodgrains.
“The city government has been approaching the Union government to seek its concurrence. Once we get it, we would go ahead with the idea,” said Diskhit in a function at Delhi secretariat.

Presently,a BPL card holder has an option to buy basic food items like sugar, kerosene, pulses, rice, wheat from government subsidised shops which are run by government appointed dealers.

She further announced that Dilli Annshri Yojana would be launched in next two months to provide cash transfer of Rs 600 per month to the senior most member of vulnerable families, other than 3.5  lakh BPL and Antyodaya Anna Yojna card holders who are being provided foodgrain through public distribution system.

The new scheme will benefit two lakh families to enhance scope of food subsidy to the needy persons.

Dikshit also announced a new system of dissemination of government schemes through scrolls to be installed in major offices.