Gujarat government today started implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA), state cabinet minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said.
The scheme, however, will be officially launched on April 6 by Chief Minister Ananiben Patel, Chudasama, the Gujarat Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer affairs minister, said.
"Under the scheme, we will cover around 3.40 crore eligible citizens who will be given food grains at subsidised rates through our Public Distribution System (PDS) shops. The number of beneficiaries may increase in future, as the process to identify them is still going on," said Chudasama.
"Though the scheme is functional from today, it will be launched by the chief minister from Sanand town on April 6, which is BJP's foundation day. Other ministers will simultaneously launch the scheme from different parts of state that day," he said.
While presenting the state Budget in the Assembly on February 23, Gujarat Finance Minister Saurabh Patel had announced the launch of NFSA in the state from April 1.
Patel also stated that a provision of Rs 456 crore has been made in the 2016-17 budget to provide food grains at affordable prices to eligible citizens.
Under NFSA, eligible persons will be entitled to receive five kg of foodgrains per person per month at subsidised prices of Rs 3/2/1 per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
