JAIPUR: At a time when suspense continues over whether the upcoming BJP government in Rajasthan would withdraw the welfare schemes implemented by the previous Congress government, it has come to light that many beneficiaries of the Annapurna Food Yojana implemented by the Ashok Gehlot government are yet to receive their full entitlement of kits.
The scheme was inaugurated by the outgoing chief minister on August 15, and its beneficiaries should have received food kits at least for four times till now.But most beneficiaries across the state have received food kits under the scheme only twice till this month. Only a handful of beneficiaries have managed to get the food kits thrice so far.
“From the day this scheme was launched, it has faced problems that invariably delayed the process of distributing the kits. Finally, after distributing food kits for two times, the government stopped distribution, citing lack of funds to procure grocery items to be given under the scheme,” said Dimple Sharma, the state president and national vice-president of All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Federation.
Besides, soon after the scheme was rolled out, there have been complaint that the supplied items were insufficient for the number of beneficiaries. In some districts, there had also been complaints about items of inferior quality being supplied, forcing the district administration to roll back the stocks.
“This had delayed the first round of distribution, and when the time for the second round of distribution arrived, the stocks had been rolled back. This was because the food packets had the chief minister’s photo printed on them, and the model code of conduct was already in force in the state. The government had given us fresh stocks for the second round, but distribution could not be done,” added Sharma.
Under the Annapurna Food Yojana, the beneficiaries are entitled to get 1 kg salt, 1 kg sugar, 1 kg dal, 100 grams of chilli powder, 100 grams of coriander powder, 50 grams of turmeric powder and one litre of soyabean oil. Owners of the fair price shops claimed that they had been asked by officials to wait till the new government is formed and a decision is taken on the future of this scheme. They said they will be distributing only one kg of wheat per beneficiary under National Food Security Act (NFSA) till then.
The scheme was inaugurated by the outgoing chief minister on August 15, and its beneficiaries should have received food kits at least for four times till now.But most beneficiaries across the state have received food kits under the scheme only twice till this month. Only a handful of beneficiaries have managed to get the food kits thrice so far.
“From the day this scheme was launched, it has faced problems that invariably delayed the process of distributing the kits. Finally, after distributing food kits for two times, the government stopped distribution, citing lack of funds to procure grocery items to be given under the scheme,” said Dimple Sharma, the state president and national vice-president of All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Federation.
Besides, soon after the scheme was rolled out, there have been complaint that the supplied items were insufficient for the number of beneficiaries. In some districts, there had also been complaints about items of inferior quality being supplied, forcing the district administration to roll back the stocks.
“This had delayed the first round of distribution, and when the time for the second round of distribution arrived, the stocks had been rolled back. This was because the food packets had the chief minister’s photo printed on them, and the model code of conduct was already in force in the state. The government had given us fresh stocks for the second round, but distribution could not be done,” added Sharma.
Under the Annapurna Food Yojana, the beneficiaries are entitled to get 1 kg salt, 1 kg sugar, 1 kg dal, 100 grams of chilli powder, 100 grams of coriander powder, 50 grams of turmeric powder and one litre of soyabean oil. Owners of the fair price shops claimed that they had been asked by officials to wait till the new government is formed and a decision is taken on the future of this scheme. They said they will be distributing only one kg of wheat per beneficiary under National Food Security Act (NFSA) till then.
