Food security to over 71 lakh families in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh government has made concrete food security arrangements for 71 lakh BPL and extremely poor families in the state. In the state, 55 lakh 69 thousand 638 BPL families are being provided wheat and rice at concessional rates through ration cards. Food grains are being provided at extremely low rates to 15 lakh 81 thousand 565 families under Antyodaya Ann Yojna (AAY) implemented in the state for extremely poor people. Concerned with better health of SC, ST people, the State Government is providing iodised salt to them at Re. one per kg.
Under Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojna implemented in Madhya Pradesh since year 2008, BPL families are being provided wheat at extremely low rate of Rs. 3 per kg and rice at Rs. 4.50 per kg. Under the scheme, the State Government has ensured that 20 kg wheat-rice are provided per ration card to BPL families.
Under Antyodaya Ann Yojna, extremely poor consumers are being provided wheat at Rs. 2 per kg and rice at Rs. 3 per kg. The State Government has made concrete arrangements to supply 35 kg food grains per ration card under the scheme. Besides, free meals are also being provided to students of primary and middle schools in the state under Mid-day Meal Scheme.
In order to eradicate goiter disease, the State Government is making available iodised salt at Re. one per kg in 89 blocks of 20 scheduled tribe-dominated districts in the state. Its benefit is being provided to 28 lakh 52 thousand 719 APL, BPL and AAY families. To ensure better quality, ISI mark refined iodised salt is being made available in attractive packs from this year. This ultra white salt is pure and conforms to ISI standard. The State Government is making available subsidy worth Rs. 22 crore per annum for this scheme.
Under APL scheme of targeted public distribution system under State Civil Supplies Corporation, food grains are being made available through 189 supply centres in all the districts. Under the scheme, 10 kg food grains are being made available per beneficiary including wheat at the rate of Rs. 9 per kg and rice at Rs. 11 per kg. Following record 85.4 lakh metric tonne procurement of wheat, now APL, BPL and AAY beneficiaries are being provided benefit of the scheme in the state.
Under the State Government’s welfare schemes, arrangements have been made to ensure supply of food grains to institutions of destitute senior citizens, government-aided SC, ST and OBC hostels, madarsas, old age home, Nari Niketans, orphanages and institutions run by voluntary organisations. Under the scheme, food grains at rate of 15 kg per beneficiary are being made available at BPL rates. Nutritious diet is being made available to over one core beneficiaries through Anganwadi centres run by the Women & Child Development Department. Under the programme, self-help groups are provided food grains at BPL rates.