The Fact News Service
Jalandhar, May 25
The Punjab government has covered more than 85% of the 2.41 lakh smart cardholder families in the district by distributing them free wheat and pulses for three months, in a single go, through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna (PMGKAY).
Divulging the details, the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Varinder Kumar Sharma said that on the directions of the Chief Minister and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the district administration was on verge of completing this mammoth drive to give relief to 9.26 lakh eligible beneficiaries in the prevailing scenario due to the spread of Covid-19. He said that in past one month, the Sub Divisional Magistrates along with District Food and Supplies Controller Narinder Singh had been continuing this drive to benefit the needy strata of the society. Sharma said that the teams formulated by the administration to complete this exercise in a foolproof manner produced desired results and till now around two lakh smart card holder families have been covered whereas the remaining ones would also be covered soon.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner said that in wake of outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic, the government had decided to give 5 kilogram of wheat per beneficiary per month for three months and one kilogram pulses per family per month for three months. Sharma said that free distribution of wheat at 15 Kg per member of family and Daal at 3kg only for full family (irrespective of number of family members) was ensured by depot holders of food department to all smart card holders.
He said that qualitative and quantitative check on depot holders was ensured with zero tolerance towards any malpractice adding that no use of thumb machine was made due to Coronavirus.
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