Chandigarh: In a major welfare push ahead of the Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has decided to roll out free ration kits for nearly 40 lakh blue card holder families across the state starting April.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann following a Cabinet meeting in Chandigarh on Monday. Under the newly introduced ‘Meri Rasoi’ initiative, eligible households will receive additional grocery essentials along with their regular monthly wheat supply.
Each ration kit will include 2 kg of pulses, 2 kg of sugar, 1 kg of iodised salt, 200 grams of turmeric powder, and 1 litre of mustard oil. The distribution will initially continue for three months beginning in April, offering nutritional support to economically weaker families.
According to government sources, around ₹1,000 crore has been allocated for the scheme. The kits will be prepared by the Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (MARKFED), while the Food and Civil Supplies Department will manage last-mile delivery to beneficiaries throughout the state.
Addressing concerns over malnutrition, Mann said it was paradoxical that a state known as the country’s food bowl still has families struggling to access balanced meals. He stressed that children suffering from iron deficiency and lack of protein require better dietary support, adding that it is the government’s duty to ensure nutritious food reaches every household in need.
The Chief Minister assured that strict quality checks would be enforced to maintain standards of the food items being distributed. Regular monitoring, he said, would ensure transparency and prevent any compromise in quality.
Mann also confirmed that the Budget session of the state Assembly will take place from March 6 to March 16, with the Budget slated for presentation on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day. He further stated that the government would cooperate fully with the Election Commission during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, while opposing any arbitrary removal of eligible voters.
The ‘Meri Rasoi’ scheme is being seen as one of the government’s most extensive food security measures, aimed at strengthening nutritional support for lakhs of families across Punjab.
