FOODGRAINS TO UNDER NOURISHED ADOLESCENT
GIRLS & PREGNANT WOMEN
Shri Sharad Yadav,
Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has
directed allocation of 62766.7 MTs of foodgrains to be distributed
at BPL (Below Poverty Line) rate for the welfare of under nourished
adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers. This comprises
38766.7 MTs of rice and 24000 MTs of wheat. This allocation is
made for the identified people of two backward districts each
of all States and Union Territories for the remaining three months
of the current financial year 2002-2003 (January to March).
This allocation is
as per the guidelines of Planning Commission drawn in consultation
with the Department of Women and Child Development for providing
special additional central assistance to implement this as a pilot
project. According to the guidelines, the pilot project is being
taken up in two identified backward districts in each of the major
states and most populous districts (excluding the capital district)
in remaining smaller States/UTs. The identified women/girls will
be provided 6 kg. of foodgrains each at BPL rate every month for
3 consecutive months from the PDS shops. The project initially
is for a period of two years.
The Planning
Commission has already issued orders to State Governments and
Union Territories to implement the scheme of providing subsidised
foodgrains to the under nourished adolescent girls, pregnant and
lactating mothers as announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence
Day speech in 2001.
