Delhi 'all set to implement food security scheme', says Sheila Dixit

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit claimed that the state would be the first to implement Food Security Scheme in the country.

While addressing a press conference here today Dikshit said that around 9.2 million people would benefit from this scheme, which would come into effect from September 1.

"Delhi's 44 percent of population would be covered under this scheme and thirty two lakh people belonging to most vulnerable households would be brought under the food security cover with a formal launch on 20th August as I have said," she said.

She also said that the below poverty line families (BPL) would receive 35 kilograms of grains per month under the scheme.

"Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households would get 35 kilograms of food grains per month while the eligible households which will be called priority households will receive 5 kilo food grains per person per month," she added.

Speaking on the allotment of ration cards, Sheila Dikshit said that ration card would be issued to the senior most women of the household on basis of Aadhar card in order to avoid any confusion.

"The card will be based on the, will be given to the senior most women of the household, like we did in Annashree scheme. Secondly, the scheme will be based on Aadhar card so that it would be easy for people as 92 percent of the people have Aadhar card," she said.

The government of India launched a massive 22 billion dollar welfare scheme to give cheap food to hundreds of millions of people, a centerpiece of the ruling Congress party's plan to win a third term in elections due by May 2014.

The government now needs to get the bill approved by parliament within six weeks of its resumption. The Monsoon session of parliament usually begins in late July.

The decision not to wait until parliament reopens, shows the government is in a rush to implement the latest scheme.