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The Delhi Cabinet on Monday gave its nod to implement the “Dilli Annashree Yojana”, announced in the Budget 2012-13 to provide food security to two lakh vulnerable households in the current year not covered under BPL and AAY schemes. This ambitious scheme is to be implemented soon. Further, the Cabinet also recommended to the Lt. Governor of Delhi to summon the Monsoon Session of the Delhi Assembly from September 4 to 7. The decisions were taken in a Cabinet Meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Briefing the media after the Cabinet Meeting, Dikshit stated that the ‘Dilli Annashree Yojana” is a flagship scheme of the City Government which is keen to expand its social security network. She said that the new scheme would go a long way in making Delhi a hunger free state. There are around four lakh households with BPL/AAY ration cards in Delhi , getting subsidized food-grains under the PDS. The City Government, she said, was keen to provide relief to those vulnerable families, which were not covered under BPL/AAY categories. The new food subsidy being implemented under ‘Dilli Annashree Yojana” is in addition to other social security schemes like free education, health insurance, pension to senior citizens, disabled persons and women in distress, assistance of marriage of daughter of widows and low cost housing for the urban poor. Dikshit said that her government has always been taking initiatives to assist more and more vulnerable section households and other poor families to uplift them and make their lives better. Dikshit stated that under the scheme a monthly food subsidy of Rs.600 as cash would be transferred to the bank account of the senior most female member of the household. An outlay of Rs.150 crore has been provided for this purpose during current financial to cover two lakh vulnerable households identified as per approved parameters of Mission Convergence. The families are supposed to make an application with a photograph, copy of Adhaar Card, EPIC Card, Ration Card and Bank Account details of female head. The recommendation of the concerned area MLA will also be taken. A card under the ‘Dilli Annashree Yojana” will be provided to the beneficiaries with photograph to prevent any misuse. The amount would be utilized for purchase of food-grains such as rice, wheat, sugar and other essential eatables. Dikshit further stated that her government has taken the lead in the country to provide food assistance to households, which are not covered under BPL. Dikshit also stated the Monsoon Session of the Delhi State Assembly would have four sittings.

Delhi Cabinet gives nod to Dilli Annashree Yojana