Punjab seeks additional allocation of wheat for migrants

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan for additional allocation of 14,144 metric tonnes of wheat, along with 1,414 metric tonnes of pulses, for two months for distribution to the migrant labour and poor non-NFSA residents of the state.

This step would be instrumental in incentivising the workers to return to work for their livelihood, besides fully reviving the industrial activity, said the Chief Minister.

In a letter to the Union Minister, Amarinder Singh said this initiative on the part of the Centre was necessary as the loss of wages for the past few months had severely crippled the purchasing power of the migrants and the poor non-NFSA citizens.

Pertinently, the Central government had allocated 14,144 metric tonnes of wheat and 1,015 metric tonnes of pulses for distribution to migrants and non-NFSA beneficiaries under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat scheme.

The distribution of these stocks is going on in the state and is expected to be completed within the next 10-15 days.

( With inputs from IANS )