The Center has expressed its willingness to increase the number of Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries in AP to 65 lakh. Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar in Delhi requested the Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to increase the number of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
He explained that the state is suffering from the loss in the number of Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries. Presently, there are only 9.65 lakh beneficiaries. He requested that this number be increased to 65.40 lakh. The Union Minister responded favorably to this. Minister Manohar said that if the number of Ujjwala beneficiaries is increased, the state will get a subsidy of Rs. 587 crore annually.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, 50 million LPG connections are being distributed to women of families below the poverty line (BPL). Meanwhile, Manohar also met Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi. Farmers sought help in setting up stainless steel silo godowns in the state to save their grain during the cyclone.
Union Minister Joshi assured that they will provide an opportunity to set up godowns in two places in the state on an experimental basis under the PPP model. Minister Manohar also met FCI MD Ashutosh. He asked for cooperation to ensure that CMR delivery is done on time as desired by the millers in the state. Ashutosh assured that he would provide full support for this.
Manohar discussed with National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) MD Anees Joseph about the supply of small grains through ration and the establishment of model cheap shops in farmers’ markets. Manohar said that the government is ready to supply quality rice to 40,000 government schools and 4,000 welfare hostels in the state from the next academic year.
He said that the PD Act is being used against rice smugglers in a way that is unprecedented in the country. The Minister said that new QR code ration cards will be provided to every family across the state in May.