Chandigarh, February 23 – Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab announced the "Meri Rasoi" scheme on Monday. The scheme aims to provide nutritious food to 40 lakh blue card holders in the state, starting in April.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the scheme after a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
"Meri Rasoi" will ensure that all blue card holders receive 2 kg of lentils, 2 kg of sugar, 1 kg of iodized salt, 200 grams of turmeric, and 1 litre of mustard oil, in addition to the free wheat they receive each month.
"The families will receive the ration kits for three months, starting from April," the Chief Minister said.
Officials stated that the "Meri Rasoi" scheme has a budget of Rs 1,000 crore.
While the kits will be prepared by state-run Markfed, the Food and Supplies Department will distribute them among the beneficiaries.
Starting from April, each cardholder under the National Food Security Act or Smart Ration Card Scheme will receive a separate bag containing the food items. Beneficiaries are eligible for 15 kg of wheat every month. The wheat is provided quarterly in a 45-kg bag.
CM Mann stated that it was ironic that Punjab has been feeding millions of people in the country, but many families in the state only receive one meal a day.
"Our children are malnourished and suffer from iron deficiency. The meals they receive are not rich in protein. As a welfare government, it is our duty to ensure that every citizen in the state receives wholesome meals," he said.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet decided to hold the Budget session from March 6 to 16, and the Budget will be presented on International Women’s Day, March 8, which falls on a Sunday.
"If Prime Minister Narendra Modi can convene a Parliament session on a Sunday, why can’t we? We can also present our budget on Sunday," Mann said.
The Chief Minister also said that investigations were underway into the killings of two security personnel at a border checkpoint in Gurdaspur on Sunday.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Gurnam Singh and home guard Ashok Kumar were found dead near the Pakistan border.
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) revision, CM Mann said the government would give full cooperation to the Election Commission. "But we will oppose any move to delete voters," he said.