Ma-Annapurna Yojna to benefit 75% of population in Gujarat

Sanand, Ahmedabad

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today launched the statewide Ma-Annapurna Yojna to provide cereals at concessional rates to poor and middle class families identified under the Antyodaya.

The number of beneficiaries of providing wheat at Rs.2/kg and rice at Rs.3/kg to 1.88-crore people during the Congress party rule is now increased to 3.82-crore people as per the Bharatiya Janata Party’s pro-people policies.

As per the latest policy decision, the facility which was earlier available to Below Poverty Level (BPL) families is now extended to the more people belonging to priority list.

The decision is estimates to help such family save 60 per cent of their expenditure on cereal, amounting to Rs.1,200.

Any family which feels it deserves to be incorporated under the scheme get the criteria verified from zonal offices and then apply to get the seal of the mamalatdar/taluka development officer in villages and of the chief officer in towns in their ration card. The list of priority families could be seen at fair price shops, village and taluka panchayat offices as well as on the website.

She distributed cereal to 35 beneficiaries under Ma-Annapurna Yojna as a token. Earlier, the benefit was available as per family irrespective of the size. Now each member of such families will be entitled to five kg cereal at concessional rate.

The decision is estimated to help such family save 60 per cent of their expenditure on cereal, amounting to Rs.1,200.

The Chief Minister said that 7.62-lakh people are included under Ma-Vatsalyam Card scheme, which doesn’t only provide food security but also health cover. The government spent about Rs.143-crore on 80,000 patients. The government carried out medical checkup of 75 lakh women for breast and cervical cancer and screened 45 lakh for diabetes.

She directed the administration to disseminate information about Garib-Antyodaya, Khedut-Dhartiputra and other schemes like loan-assistance at one percent interest to the target groups. She distributed cereals to 35 beneficiaries as a token.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma delivered the keynote address. Principal Secretary M.K. Das gave details about the scheme.

Those present on the occasion included MP Kiritbhai Solanki, MLA Babubhai Patel, Go Seva Ayog Chairman Chaitanya Shambhu Maharaj, In-charge Secretary K. Shrinivasan, Collector Rajkumar Beniwal, DDO Bhargaviben Dave and others.

– Information