Punjab govt decides to distribute 10 lakh ration packets

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered officials on Thursday to immediately distribute 10 lakh packets of dry ration, containing flour, dal and sugar, among poor people working in urganised sector, such as daily-w earners.

Singh said ecomic pack anunced by central government was a welcome initiative, but unfortunately immediate relief was provided to people working in urganised sector who h been hit hard by curfew/lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.

chief minister ordered officials to make ration packets, containing 10kg wheat flour, 2kg 'dal' and 2kg sugar, available at offices of deputy commissioners for those who do t get covered under door-to-door distribution system, according to a government statement.

Separately, during a meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and chief ministers of party-led states via a video link, Singh said all efforts were being me to reach out to poor in Punjab.

However, many people in Punjab and UT Chandigarh continued to face difficulties in getting essential items such as milk, vegetables and medicines at ir doorsteps. People complained that phone numbers anunced by authorities to contact suppliers remained n-responsive.

Many asked when ATMs would reopen as y would be soon run out of cash.

Chandigarh ministration said it has arranged three mobile ATMs and distributed food packets.

Punjab Goverr V P Singh Bre and his viser Maj Parida stepped out into city to check arrangements.

In Mohali, district ministration roped in neighbourhood shops, big retailers and e-commerce chains to supply essential commodities to residents at ir homes. It also ordered that all cold stor facilities be opened till April 10 to store potatoes as harvesting of crop was underway.

Meanwhile, Punjab Truck Operators Association president Happy Sandhu sought chief minister's intervention to allow loed trucks stranded in or states because of lockdown to reach ir destinations.

Punjab and Chandigarh have imposed a curfew to check spre of virus.