UP government rolls out subsidised salt scheme

Lucknow: Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday launched “Samajwadi Namak”, fortified with iron and iodine, for the poor from his official residence in Lucknow. The salt will be available at subsidised rates for about 46.2 lakh beneficiaries in 10 districts. The scheme would benefit Antyodaya, BPL as well as 60 per cent of APL card holders in 10 districts, including Sidharth Nagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Faizabad, Mau, Meerut, Farrukhabad, Moradabad, Hamirpur, Etawah and Auraiya. The government claimed these districts were selected based on the high incidence of cases of anaemia among children below 5 years of age. The salt would be given to APL card holders at the rate of Rs 6 per kg, whereas it would be given to BPL and Antyodaya card holders at the rate of Rs 3 per kg.

The subsidy would cost the exchequer Rs 48 crore. Government officials quoted NFHS-III survey for defining the need for the scheme and said that those suffering with anaemia include 52.4 per cent pregnant women, 73.9 percent children in the age group of 6-59 months, 75.5 per cent girls as well as 24 per cent men below the age group of 20 years.

The scheme would be run in collaboration with Tata Trust and 1 kg salt packets distributed by the Chief Minister at his residence today were in red and green (Samajwadi Party colours) with white background. The packets have been named “Samajwadi iron evam iodine Mishrit Namak” written in red and also carry logo of Uttar Pradesh Government along with sketch of map of Uttar Pradesh in light green.

Source: The Indian Express

For Updates Download our App: Click Here