2 lakh poor families to benefit from food cash transfer scheme

The Annashree Yojana is being launched to help vulnerable families who are currently not covered under the public distribution system.

"There are around four lakh households which are covered under the BPL scheme or Antyodaya Anna Yojana. These families are getting subsidised food grains. We are launching the new scheme to provide relief to those poor families which are not covered by any food programme," the Chief Minister said.

Dikshit was speaking after inaugurating a renovated office of Food and Civil Supplies department at Tis Hazari complex.

She said the vulnerable households not covered by the PDS scheme have been identified by Mission Convergence department.

"We are launching the scheme to expand the social security network. The new scheme would go a long way in making Delhi a hunger-free state," she said.

Under the scheme, a food subsidy of Rs 600 per month would be transferred directly in the bank account of the senior most female member of the household to facilitate purchase of foodgrain of her choice.

"Our government has been taking all steps to mitigate the effects of inflation in the capital city," she said.

The government will spend around Rs 150 crore in the current fiscal for the scheme. There are around four lakh households getting subsidised food items under BPL and AAY schemes. The Chief Minister had announced the scheme while presenting the annual budget in May.

The city government has been favouring cash transfer to beneficiaries instead of subsidised food grains and had even sought an option of direct cash transfer to BPL families instead of food grains in the ambitious Food Security Bill, which is being vetted by a parliamentary panel.

Speaking on the occasion, Food and Civil Supplies Minster Haroon Yusuf said 39 Circle Offices of Food and Civil Supplies department would be renovated in a phase manner at a cost of Rs 8 crore.