Maharashtra to give free ration to people in flood-hit areas of six districts

NASHIK: State food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Saturday announced free foodgrain, pulses and kerosene for people in all flood-affected districts with immediate effect, adding that the help would continue till further orders.
The state will also provide Shiv Bhojan thali (subsidised meals) free of cost to all the people who have been displaced till orders for the same are cancelled. “The food can be cooked at some other place — if any centre is affected — and distributed with the help of government authorities,” Bhujbal added.
Bhujbal told reporters in Nashik on Saturday that each flood-affected family would be given 10 kg rice, 10 kg wheat, 5 kg pulses and 5 litre kerosene with immediate effect in Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.
“The families have lost everything to the flood. After having a word with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, the department has decided to help people during their hard time. The ration would be provided immediately,” said Bhujbal.
Bhujbal added that in the Konkan region, people would be given an additional 10kg rice if they do not want wheat. The supplies would be provided through the regular ration shops — the fair price shops.
In case of tur dal, the local district collectors have been instructed to procure the same from the market from the funds under disaster management.
An estimated 85,000 people have been displaced and hence foodgrain requirement is pegged at about 500 tonne. The grains would be lifted from the Food Corporation of India godowns in respective districts.
The team of the gramsevak, Krishi sahayak and the talathi together for every village will identity the families affected, register their information and provide the help in the form of food grains.
“The work of identification of such beneficiaries has just started and it would take two days to get the numbers,” said district supply officer of Kolhapur.