23.75 lakh new eligible persons receive ration card, families will receive new card within 30 days of application: Samrat

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said on Thursday that providing ration cards to all eligible families in the state is the government's priority. Under this, 23.75 lakh new ration cards have already been issued and eligible families will receive a new ration card within 30 days of applying.

Mr. Chaudhary said the government's resolve is that no poor person in Bihar will remain hungry and no eligible family will be deprived of the benefits of public welfare schemes.

Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary inaugurated the ceremony of distributing newly issued ration cards and licenses for reasonably priced shops organized by the Department of Food and Consumer Protection in Gyan Bhon, Patna today.

On the occasion, he distributed ration cards to 23 lakh 75 thousand new eligible persons and licenses for 4,448 new shops under the Public Distribution System (PDS). He also symbolically provided ration cards to some eligible persons.

Addressing the event, Mr. Chaudhary extended congratulations and best wishes to all beneficiaries. He said bringing prosperity into the lives of the poor and providing them with the opportunity to live a dignified life is the government's top priority. Bringing prosperity into people's lives will make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's developed India and former Chief Minister Nitesh Kumar's prosperous Bihar a humble reality.

The Chief Minister said that currently a total of 2.09 crore ration cards have been issued in Bihar, benefiting approximately 8.46 crore people. The Department of Food and Consumer Protection was given a target to connect one crore new people with ration cards. In this direction, about 24 lakh people have already been included. He appealed to those without ration cards to apply and assured that the government will ensure that eligible applicants receive a new ration card within 30 days.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the arrangement to provide free grains to poor families. He said that along with food security, poor families are also being provided health security through the Ayushman Bharat scheme. All families in the state are receiving 125 units of free electricity. The government is continuously working to meet the basic needs of the poor and improve their standard of living.

He appealed to public representatives and officials to conduct campaigns at the panchayat level to identify people deprived of ration cards and connect them with government schemes. He said that Panchayat Diwas is held on the last Sunday of every month. Under the 'Seva Sankalp Yom Kaayaklapp Abhiyan', rural areas are being worked on to improve essential basic facilities such as health centers, schools, Anganwadi centers, community buildings, and Chhath ghats. Work is ongoing on projects worth 22 thousand crore rupees to improve village conditions and develop rural infrastructure.

Mr. Choudhary, while mentioning employment and industrial development, said that a target is being worked on to provide government jobs and employment to one crore people in the next five years. Industrial activities are being promoted in the state so that new employment opportunities are created for the youth. The government is determined to establish such a system in Bihar by 2030, under which people here will not have to turn to other states for employment and the youth will have dignified jobs and better future prospects within their own state. The Chief Minister also mentioned the interests of farmers, saying that a target of 50 lakh metric tonnes of rice procurement has been requested from the central government so that the maximum number of farmers can receive a fair price for their produce. He added that registration facilities for land and property are already being provided at home for senior citizens aged over 80 years.

In the same vein, starting next year, a system will be introduced to provide grain to senior citizens aged over 75 years who hold ration cards at their homes. This will spare them unnecessary distress in obtaining ration.

Mr. Choudhary also appealed to media representatives to actively participate in the ration card campaign. He said that this information should be conveyed to those families whose ration cards have not yet been issued through the media. With the cooperation of all sections of society, it can be ensured that no needy family is deprived of the right to food security. Serving the poor and their welfare is the core commitment of the government. Bringing the benefits of public welfare schemes to every eligible family, providing food security to the needy, offering special facilities to the elderly, and creating ample employment opportunities for the youth in Bihar are among the government's priorities.

During the program, a short film based on the activities of the Department of Food and Consumer Protection was screened. The event was addressed by Deputy Chief Minister Waje Kumar Choudhary, Food and Consumer Protection Minister Ashok Choudhary, and the department's Secretary Abhe Kumar Singh. The Chief Minister's Secretary, other senior officials, and beneficiaries were also present. Through video conferencing, all district magistrates and beneficiaries from every district were connected to the program.