The ambitious Food Security Programme has been launched in Haryana, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Delhi. The objective of the programme is to make the country hunger free.

In the national capital, the programme was rolled out by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Gandhi said, 75 per cent rural and 50 per cent urban population will get foodgrains at highly subsidized prices.

She said that special emphasis has been given to check leakages in the public distribution system so that targeted beneficiaries can receive actual benefit through the scheme.

Speaking on the scheme, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Prof. KV Thomas said, special focus has been given to nutritional support for women and children. He said, pregnant and lactating mothers, besides being entitled to nutritious meals, will also receive maternity benefit of at least 6,000 rupees.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda launched the programme in Panipat.

In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna launched the programme and in Arunachal Pradesh, the programme was launched by his counterpart Nabam Tuki.

Our correspondent reports that eligible households will get rice at 3 rupees, wheat at 2 rupees and coarse cereals at one rupee per kilogram.

Households under Antyodaya Anna Yojna category will be entitled to 35 kilograms of foodgrains per month, while the BPL, Jhuggi and Resettlement Colony Ration Card holders will get 5 kilograms of foodgrains per person per month.

The oldest woman in every eligible household will be treated as head of the family for the entitlements.