Pulses missing in Hooda’s food security menu

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had announced that the food security scheme would be launched on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He had said that the government was aware of the needs of the people,hence it had decided to add dal to the scheme. A total of 1.35 lakh people in Haryana are likely to benefit from the scheme.

The Haryana government had issued tenders for the purchase of dal,which was to be added in the scheme from the state government’s side. However,faulty procedure led one of the bidders to get a stay on the implementation of the tenders.

Sources said that in response to the tenders,nine bidders submitted bids. A committee opened five of the bids and settled for a price of Rs 40.71 per kg. A bidder was assigned supply.

However,one of the four bidders whose tenders were not opened approached the court,demanding that its tender be opened. The government said that this bidder was not considered because it lacked a food security licence.

Sources said there is still doubt over adding rice to the food list at the initial stage as the government has not been able to complete the process in this regard.

The price for beneficiaries is fixed at Rs 3 per kg for rice,Rs 2 for wheat,Rs 13.50 for sugar and Rs 20 per kg for pulses.

Initially the government planned to add dal for below poverty line and antyodaya anna yojna beneficiaries,but a demand was raised to add other beneficiaries too. The government is yet to take a decision in this regard.

Confed chairman Bajrang Das Garg told The Indian Express that pulses would be added to the list from September 1. “There is a small problem that is being sorted out. The chief minister will launch the scheme on August 20. That will ensure that the beneficiaries immediately start getting supply of wheat,sugar and kerosene,” he said.