Public Distribution System (PDS) coverage in Chhattisgarh has grown from 45 per cent in 2003 to 82 per cent in 2017-18, Civil Supplies Minister Punnulal Mohle told reporters here on Wednesday.
The free LPG gas connections under Prime Minister Ujjawala Yojana started on August 13, 2016 now has 16.50 lakh subscribers from economically weaker sections, he said.
In 2003 there were just about 6.80 lakh connections which has now been registered at 36.38 lakh connections, the Minister said.
He said that during the last 14 years, State Government has made continuous improvements in Public Distribution System, relieving poor people of the concern for food.
Chhattisgarh is the first State of the country that made Food Security and Nutrition Security Law in year 2012 and gave lakhs of poor people the right to food for malnutrition eradication, he said.
Under PDS, nearly 57.72 lakh ration card holder families in Chhattisgarh are being provided monthly supply of rice at only Rs 1/kg. Two crore 10 lakh members of such families are being benefitted under the scheme.
He said that employment opportunities have been created extensively by promoting handloom fabric production, silk production, handicrafts and clay art in Gramodyog sector.
Under support price policy, Chhattisgarh Government has made the best possible arrangement for paddy procurement, Mohle said.
In last 14 years, 669 new procurement centres have been opened in cooperative societies. In year 2003, the number of procurement centres was 1323, which has now increased to 1992 today. The number of registered farmers selling paddy in this duration has increased from eight lakh to 13.28 lakh in year 2016-17 and to more than 15.78 lakh in current kharif marketing year 2017-18, he said.
It is noteworthy that in the current fiscal year, more than 15.78 farmers have got their registration done, Mohle said.
He informed that after formation of Mati Kala Board under Gramodyog Department, the board connected artisans and potters with new technology for their economic development. Till date, three thousand 745 electric wheels and 505 Bering wheels have been distributed to potters under Kumhar Terracota Scheme.
The Minister informed that each ration card holder is being provided two kilo iodized salts per ration card in scheduled areas and one kilo iodized salt per ration card in normal areas. Ration card holder families of scheduled areas are also being provided two kilo chickpeas at only Rs 5.
He informed that under Public Distribution System, State Government spends nearly Rs 2200 crore on rice distribution, Rs 400 crore on chickpeas distribution and Rs 76 crore on free distribution of salt.
In last 14 years, 4661 new ration shops have been opened in state, including which the number of fair price shops under PDS has increased from eight thousand 637 to 12 ,298, Mohle said.
This includes 11 043 shops in rural areas, he said.
The entire responsibility of all fair price shops have been handed over to cooperative societies, women self-help groups, Gram Panchayats and forest security committees under public sector, Mohle said.
He informed that in last 14 years, 5, 260 fair price shops-cum-godowns have been built PDS. In year 2003, ration shops used to get only Rs 8 per quintal as commission on rice distribution, which was increased to Rs 30 in year 2006 and to Rs 70 per quintal in year 2016. From year 2008, all the ration shops are being provided ration stock on credit.
As a result, ration shops get their monthly stock in the first week of the month and card holders are getting ration on time, the Minister said.
Mohle informed that State Government's Food Department has computerised the entire PDS system to ensure transparency. The entire system has been made online through website.
Any citizen can lodge any kind of complaint regarding PDS on citizen website. Besides, a free call centre has also been established for redressal of public grievances related to PDS, contact number of which is 1800-233-3662 and 1967, he said.
He informed that in year 2003, PDS coverage in Chhattisgarh was only 45% but after implementation of Mukhyamantri Khadyann Sahayta Yojana in year 2007-08 and Food and Nutrition Security Law in year 2012-13, the PDS Coverage has increased to 82%.
Talking about Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Food Minister the Minister informed that under this scheme launched on August 13, 2016, till date women of 16 lakh 50 thousand poor families have been provided free domestic gas connections.
He informed that Central Government is providing subsidy of nearly Rs 1600 to poor families under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
Chhattisgarh is the first and the only state of the country, where beneficiaries of this scheme are being provided double burner stove and first free refill at the nominal registration cost of Rs 200.