Chandigarh, August 02, 2020: In the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, under Mission Fateh Punjab Government have distributed 15 lakh dry ration packets to the poor of the state during the curfew and lockout imposed in Punjab due to Corona virus.
Disclosing this here today Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that during lockdown/curfew in wake of corona virus, the State of Punjab immediately decided to come forward to reduce the hardships of the poor and marginalized sections of the society who are not covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 and directions were issued to distribute 15 lakh dry ration packets comprising 10 Kg Atta , 2 Kg pulses and 2 Kg sugar through the Department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. The approximate cost incurred on each food packet was Rs.460/-
Giving the detail regarding distibution of dry ration packets Food and Civil Supplies Minister said that in Amritsar 128000, Barnala 28500, Bathinda 58000, Faridkot 28000, Fatehgarh Sahib 30000, Fazilka 45000, Ferozepur 38700, Gurdaspur 67500, Hoshiarpur 61000, Jalandhar 131550, Kapurthala 35500, Ludhiana 401000, Mansa 27000, Moga 36000, Pathankot 27500, Patiala 70000, Rupnagar 37000, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar 57000, Sangrur 71500, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar 28500, Sri Muktsar Sahib 51750 and in Tarn Taran 41000 dry ration packets were distributed.
He further said that out of these 15 lakh dry ration packets, 1.2 lac dry ration packets were distributed exclusively to the migrant workers predominantly located in the cities of Ludhiana, Jalandhar , Amritsar , SAS Nagar and Batala. In addition to this, 2,00,000 more dry ration packets were dedicatedly approved for the migrant and needy population of Ludhaina district and out of which till date, 94,700 dry ration packets have already been distributed.
Mr. Ashu said that the distribution of the dry ration packets was made in a fair and transparent manner through the concerned District Administration. The beneficiaries to whom the dry ration packets have been distributed, were identified by the district administration and a complete record of such beneficiaries has been maintained.
He said that Currently the distribution of 1414400 food packets comprising 10kg atta, 1 kg black chana and 1kg sugar is going on to cater to the requirements of the migrant/ Non NFSA population of the State under the Atma Nirbhar Scheme. In this the Government of Punjab has taken the initiative to distribute atta after getting the allocated wheat grinded and adding sugar to the packets so as to provide succour to the poor people amidst the ongoing pandemic.