UP govt to solve water crisis in Bundelkhand: CM
KANPUR: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said his government would solve the water crisis in Bundelkhand and work towards increasing milk production in the region.
“A plan has been conceived to help people fight the age-old tradition of Anna Pratha in which they leave their cattle to fend for themselves,” Yogi said while distributing certificates to the beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s housing scheme in Hamirpur.
“People abandon their cows as they get only 300-400 ml milk from them. They will not let their cattle go if they get 5-10 litres,” he said.
“Each time we discuss Bundelkhand with public representatives, water crisis and milk production is always discussed. The government is committed to solving these problems ,” he said.
Meanwhile, PTI reported quoting cabinet minister Siddharth Nath Singh that officials from 26 major American companies will interact with the chief minister on Monday to explore investment opportunities in the state.
››
LUCKNOW Having cancelled 30 lakh bogus ration cards recently, the Yogi Adityanath government is now pitching for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of food subsidy in a move that may plug in pilferages in the public distribution chain in Uttar Pradesh.
Under the proposed system that already exists in the Union Territories of Chandigarh and Puducherry, the cash (equal to that of the subsidy) is transferred directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts. The beneficiaries have the choice to spend the cash on purchasing the food grain of their choice from any shop.
Initially, however, the government is planning to begin the cash transfer scheme as a pilot project from two districts. Depending on the results, the scheme may gradually be extended to other districts.
Principal secretary, food and civil supply, Nivedita Shukla Verma told HT: “The chief minister
has asked us to start the direct benefit transfer of food subsidy as a pilot scheme in the state allowing the beneficiaries to purchase the food grains as per their convenience.” The scheme, she said, was proposed to be started from Baghpat district and the Faizabad municipal corporation from April next year after the database was ready. This will involve linking the beneficiaries’ Aadhaar with bank accounts.
The government is, in fact, examining the two DBT models. The first is the one that adopted by Chandigarh and Puducherry
where the subsidy is transferred to the beneficiary’s (woman head of the family) account and the beneficiary can purchase the food grain from the government-controlled ration shops. There is another model introduced only recently by Jharkhand where the ration shops have been done away with and the beneficiaries are free to buy food grain from any shop and any market with the subsidy amount transferred to their accounts.
“We are examining both the models and maybe we will adopt both of them as a pilot,” Verma said. Recently, the government identified and cancelled 30 lakh bogus ration cards being used by ineligible beneficiaries. These cards were cancelled during a three-month statewide drive that concluded last month.
The DBT scheme in the PDS is said to have several benefits.
An official said: “It not only offers a choice to the beneficiaries but also cuts food subsidy bills, besides checking pilferage right from loading, transporting, unloading and delivery to beneficiaries.”
A study conducted by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) two years ago revealed that out of the total 8.29 million tons (MT) of rice and wheat that was taken by UP from the central pool in 2011-12, only 4.3 MT reached the intended beneficiaries.
The remaining 47.9% was apparently pilfered or diverted to the open market as multiple agencies are involved in lifting and handling of food grain.
: