On October 19, 2021, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the cabinet decided to implement 'Mukhyamantri Ration Aapke Dwar' for the convenience of poor tribal families.

Key Points:

=> This scheme will be implemented from November, 2021 in the tribal development blocks of the remaining districts except the districts of the election code of conduct. Under the scheme, tribal families of 7,511 villages will be benefited in 74 development blocks of 16 districts.

=> Except the village located at the headquarters, the distribution of ration material will be done through the vehicle in other villages attached to the shop.

=> The days of each month will be fixed by the District Collector for distribution in the village. On an average, 220 to 440 quintals of food items will be distributed by a vehicle for 22 to 25 days (excluding holidays) in a month.

=> An estimated 472 vehicles will be used for food transportation. The annual expenditure of Rs.24 thousand per month on one metric ton vehicle and Rs.31 thousand per month on 2 metric ton vehicle is estimated at Rs.14 crore 7 lakh.

=> While loading the food grains in the vehicle, its quality will be tested. There will be all arrangements for keeping electronic weighing fork, mic, speaker, POS machine, seating and keeping food grains safe for weighing the material in the vehicle.

=> For the arrangement of vehicles, a contract will be signed with the transporters at the district level.

=> The transporters will be residents of the villages of the same area. Their age will be between 21 to 45 years and they will be from the Scheduled Tribes category. The fixed expenses will be paid to the transporters every month.

=> Margin money will be provided to the transporter on the loan amount for the purchase of the vehicle. Margin money of Rs.2 lakh will be paid for vehicles of 1 metric ton capacity and Rs.3 lakh for vehicles of 2 metric ton or more capacity. A lump sum amount of Rs 9 crore 69 lakh of margin money will be paid by the Tribal Affairs Department.

=> Under the Public Distribution System, there is a provision to operate a fair price shop at the Gram Panchayat level, except the headquarter village of the shop, due to lack of easy means of transport to the eligible families of the remaining dependent villages, covering a distance of about 5 km per month from 23 to 37 The material weighing kg has to be carried on the head.

=> Divyang, old and physically challenged people face difficulty in getting ration material from the shop and poor families also suffer loss of wages. Keeping these facts in view, this decision has been taken by the Council of Ministers.

=> The scheme will save the wages and labor of the beneficiary, supply of ration material to the eligible families in the village of residence and distribution of ration material on time.

By: ASRAF UDDIN AHMED