Chandigarh: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced the launch of the ‘Meri Rasoi’ scheme, under which the Punjab government will provide free quarterly food kits from April to 40 lakh families registered under the National Food Security Act.
This will be in addition to wheat being provided under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The new scheme, according to Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, will involve an outlay of Rs 950 crore.
Speaking to the media after chairing a Cabinet meeting here, the Chief Minister said the initiative reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to strengthening food and nutrition security for every household in Punjab.
“The hard-working and resilient farmers of Punjab have worked tirelessly to ensure that no one in the country sleeps hungry. Our state has always led from the front in feeding the nation. However, there are still some families within Punjab who struggle to manage daily meals. Keeping their hardships in mind, the state government has started this scheme,” Mann said.
Under this scheme, the state government will provide food kits to 40 lakh families. Each kit will contain two kilograms of lentils, two kilograms of sugar, one kilogram of salt, 200 grams of turmeric powder and one litre of mustard oil for monthly consumption.
The Chief Minister said these food kits will be provided in addition to the wheat already being distributed to eligible beneficiaries under the NFSA. The distribution of food kits will begin in April, he added.
“Markfed will be the nodal agency for providing these kits and they will be supplied free of cost by the Food and Civil Supplies department,” he said, adding that the government has put in place a robust mechanism to ensure smooth distribution.
“Punjabis have steered the country out of food crises in the past and this initiative is part of the series of pro-people policies that our government has undertaken for public welfare. This guarantee was not written and was not part of our party’s manifesto, but it is our moral responsibility towards the people of Punjab, and we are fulfilling it,” the Chief Minister said.