Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that the Punjab Government has taken big step forward in the direction of digitalisation

Chandigarh: Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that the Punjab Government has taken big step forward in the direction of digitalisation of the government by introducing smart ration cards for the purpose of Public Distribution System. It has revolutionized the functioning of the department.

He said that during the year 2017, the Congress Government led by Captain Amarinder Singh had promised the people of the state to make smart cards for the grain distribution system and digitization of this Public Distribution System. He said that this promise has now been  fulfilled. He said that new system will enable the beneficiaries to get direct benefit and also the department will be able to distribute ration to the needy in hasslefree manner.

Bharat Bhushan Ashu

He disclosed that under this scheme, 1.41 crore people of 37 lakh families of the state will get direct benefit. Apart from this, the State sponsored Scheme has been started by the Punjab Government for the families of the state which could not come under the Smart Ration Card Scheme, under which 9,48,801 members of 2,37,200 families (4 members of 1 family) of the state  will get benefit of the scheme.

He said that the Congress Government after assuming power, during the year 2017 started pilot project in some districts to distribute wheat through biometric medium by e-pos machine. This led to the distribution of wheat with complete transparency under the scheme.

Punjab government

Similarly, from year 2018 till now, wheat is being distributed all over the state through online ePos machines, thereby eliminating any diversion and the benefit of this welfare scheme to only qualified beneficiaries. He said that the state government in order to hike the income of the depot holders has already increased the margion money of the depot holders from Rs 25 per quintal on the distribution of wheat to Rs 50 per quintal.