Agartala, Jul 12, 2012 : The
chief minister Manik Sarkar this evening announced a package benefit
programme for the poorer sections of people belonging to BPL, 'Antyoday'
categories in terms of ration card holding. Briefing media persons in
the conference hall of state secretariat on the decisions taken by
today's cabinet meeting Sarkar said that from now on altogether 1,81,876
BPL card holders will get 35 kg rice each per month at the rate of only
Rs 2 per kg . Apart from this, altogether 1, 13,124 'Antyoday' card
holders who draw 35 kg of rice each per month at the rate of Rs 3.00 a
kg will also be given rice at the reduced rate of Rs 2.00 per kg. 'There
are altogether 2,95,000 BPL and 'Antyoday' ration card holders in the
state and in consequence of our decision between 14.5 and 15 lakh
people will directly benefit' said the chief minister . Regarding the
additional financial burden that the decision will entail, Sarkar said
that the state government will have to spend an additional Rs 36 crores a
year to make this benefit available to the people and the scheme will
become operational from August 1.
The chief minister also announced a marginal benefit for the 6,63,066 APL ration card holders as their quota of rice per card will rise to 20 kg a month from the present 18 kg though the rate of Rs 10.35 per kg has remained the same . He asserted that many among APL card holders do not draw their quota of rice from ration shops and the surplus this creates will be utilized for covering the gap of additional 2 kg meant for the APL card holders. Sarkar said that because of faulty survey conducted by Centre many poor people who deserved to be enlisted as BPL have been categorized as APL. 'Even in our Dhalai district there are more than nine thousand such people and in accordance with a decision communicated by Centre this section of people is being treated on ad hoc basis as BPL with reduced rate of rice' said the chief minister.
Sarkar also said that the state government has communicated its views on the proposed food security bill a copy of which had been sent to the state government for reaction. 'We have stated our position that the dividing line between APL and BPL should be done away with in the present context of hyper-inflation and price-rise; we have also demanded change in the yardstick of identifying BPL and other depressed categories because the present yardstick being followed by the planning commission leaves large sections of poor people in the lurch' said Sarkar.
The chief minister also announced the state government's plan to recruit 150 doctors for state's hospitals and health centres. 'We currently have 740 doctors but the number is inadequate because health service is being expanded , last year also we recruited 82 doctors but this time most of the new recruits will be posted in the interior areas' said Sarkar . Apart from this, the chief minister announced a scheme of giving award to girl students from minority community in order to encourage them to perform well in academic studies. 'The prize will be named 'Begum Rokeya award' as part of which we will give Rs 5 thousand in cash, a citation and a gold medal each to the most successful girl student from the minority community who will achieve the best results in Madhyamik and higher secondary examinations' said Sarkar.
The chief minister also announced a marginal benefit for the 6,63,066 APL ration card holders as their quota of rice per card will rise to 20 kg a month from the present 18 kg though the rate of Rs 10.35 per kg has remained the same . He asserted that many among APL card holders do not draw their quota of rice from ration shops and the surplus this creates will be utilized for covering the gap of additional 2 kg meant for the APL card holders. Sarkar said that because of faulty survey conducted by Centre many poor people who deserved to be enlisted as BPL have been categorized as APL. 'Even in our Dhalai district there are more than nine thousand such people and in accordance with a decision communicated by Centre this section of people is being treated on ad hoc basis as BPL with reduced rate of rice' said the chief minister.
Sarkar also said that the state government has communicated its views on the proposed food security bill a copy of which had been sent to the state government for reaction. 'We have stated our position that the dividing line between APL and BPL should be done away with in the present context of hyper-inflation and price-rise; we have also demanded change in the yardstick of identifying BPL and other depressed categories because the present yardstick being followed by the planning commission leaves large sections of poor people in the lurch' said Sarkar.
The chief minister also announced the state government's plan to recruit 150 doctors for state's hospitals and health centres. 'We currently have 740 doctors but the number is inadequate because health service is being expanded , last year also we recruited 82 doctors but this time most of the new recruits will be posted in the interior areas' said Sarkar . Apart from this, the chief minister announced a scheme of giving award to girl students from minority community in order to encourage them to perform well in academic studies. 'The prize will be named 'Begum Rokeya award' as part of which we will give Rs 5 thousand in cash, a citation and a gold medal each to the most successful girl student from the minority community who will achieve the best results in Madhyamik and higher secondary examinations' said Sarkar.
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