Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit on Sunday said that the Delhi Government is implementing the Food Security Scheme in the state and hopes to reach 74 lakh beneficiaries by January 2014.
"As we had said from 1 September Delhi government would implement Food Security in the state. MLA's have been directed to go to the ration shops in order to check things and at the same time it will help in creating awareness among common people. Food Security Bill benefits is now available to common people. We have a target of reaching 74 lakh beneficiaries by January 2014," she told media here today.
The Lok Sabha on August 26 passed the much-debated Food Security Bill in Parliament.
The National Food Security Bill is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives the right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices.
The Bill has a special focus on nutritional support to the poorest of the poor, women and children. In case of non-supply of foodgrains, the deprived will get a food security allowance.
The Bill also provides for grievance redressal mechanism and penalty for non -compliance by a public servant or authority. Under the plan, the government will sell subsidised wheat and rice to 67 percent of its 1.2 billion population.