DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Punjab Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs Minister Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that the state has set precedence for the entire country in smooth conducting of procurement of wheat and paddy during lockdown. In a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Mr. Ashu said that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, has created 2136 additional temporary purchase centers in the State thus increasing the total number of purchase centers to 4006 during wheat procurement in Rabbi season of 2020-21. Elaborate arrangements were made in Mandies as per heath protocol and total of 127.11 lakh MT of wheat was procured by all the procurement agencies benefited more than 10 lakh farmers from the MSP scheme. Similarly 2367 additional temporary purchase centers were set up in the State during KMS 2020-21 to maintain social distancing and staggered procurement. He informed that total 202.78 lakh MT of paddy was procured by all the procurement agencies during the season, which has been all-time highest paddy procurement in the State. The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government has initiated many dynamic works for the betterment of people of state. Smart Ration card scheme launched for the benefit of 1.41 cr. people and 37, 00, 000 Chip based Smart Cards distributed under this scheme by the Department. This Scheme will eliminate the need for carrying any other document to get the entitled quota of food grains, and bring transparency in public distribution system. He informed that the process for enrolling 9, 48, 801 eligible beneficiaries that constitute approx. 237200 families (considering 4 members in a family) under State sponsored Ration Card scheme has already been commenced. This scheme will benefit the eligible beneficiaries who could not be enrolled under National Food security Act, 2013 and the state government will have to incur approx. Rs.120 crores of rupees for one year on this initiative. Mr. Ashu said the Punjab Government has distributed 15 lakh dry ration packets consisting of 10 Kgs of Atta, 2 Kg sugar and 2 Kg pulses free of cost to the needy people/migrant labour etc. during lockdown/COVID-19 pandemic, for which State has incurred an expenditure of approx. 78.2 crores of rupees from Chief Minister's SDRF. Additional 2 lakh dry ration packets were also allotted to District Ludhiana for distribution to migrants/non-NFSA beneficiaries as per the request of the Administration. The Food and Civil Supply Minister said the State Government distributed 5 Kg wheat per month to each NFSA beneficiary and 1 Kg pulses per month to each family free of cost from April, 2020 to November, 2020 (eight months) under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana. Approx. 95% beneficiaries have availed the benefit of the same. A total quantity of 5, 35, 782.70 MT Wheat and 27, 516.11 Urad whole/Black Channa whole has been distributed under this scheme. (editor@dailyworld.in)