HP scheme benefits 1.5 lakh families

Under the targeted public distribution system (TPDS), the Himachal Pradesh government has identified 2,98,181 families as living below the poverty line and 10,74,000 as living above the poverty line in the state.

Of the BPL families, 1,54,300 poorest of the poor families have further been covered under the "Antodaya Anna Yojana", leaving 1,43,881 families in the below poverty line category, an official spokesman said here today.

The entire population of 66,74,704, comprising 13,72,677 ration cards, are being covered through a network of 4215 fair price shops in the state, he said.

The 1,54,300 Antodaya Yojana-identified families are being provided wheat and rice at the scale of 15 kg and 20 kg per family per month at the rate of Rs 2 and Rs 3 per kg respectively.

The government had also issued instructions to the rural and urban development department to identify more families under this scheme, the spokesman said.

Besides, the government had also introduced the "Annapurna Scheme" with a view to provide food security to the old, destitute and indigent citizens above 65 years of age, who were eligible for the old age pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme, but were not receiving the same, he said.

Under this scheme, 5159 aged destitute/indigent citizens were being provided 10 kg foodgrains free of cost per month, he added.