To review the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gharib Kalyan Package, a meeting was convened by Umang Narula, Advisor on March 3. 

Saugat Biswas, Divisional Commissioner Ladakh informed that all the beneficiaries covered under AAY & PHH will be provided additional 5kg Rice per person free of cost for three months starting from April. It was also informed that 1kg of pulses per household will also be provided every month. The issue of smooth distribution in conformity with the social distancing norms was also discussed during the meeting. 

Advisor issued instructions to plan the distribution in a staggered manner in co-ordination with the police department. It was decided that the schedule of distribution will be worked out at the sale centre level by the storekeeper and the same be publicized in the villages. 

Advisor also instructed the Deputy Commissioners to start stocking up of the fair price shops of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs with adequate food grains from the respective FCI stores. Advisor stated that Direct Benefit Transfers will be made under the Pradhan Mantri Gharib Kalyan Yojna and instructed the District Magistrates to work out modalities for staggering of payments to the beneficiaries to ensure social distancing. 

He advised the banks to publicize the staggering of payments. He also enquired regarding the modalities of payments in the unbanked areas. The Zonal Head J&K Bank assured that J&K bank will ensure door to door payment to the beneficiaries in coordination with the District Administrations.

Advisor instructed Director Social Welfare to facilitate the delivery of benefits to the beneficiaries especially the old aged and the divyang. He asked Director Social Welfare to ensure that the old aged, divyang and the widows should not suffer due to the current restrictions.

The meeting was attended by Satish Khandare,IGP Ladakh;Sachin Kumar Vaishya , Deputy Commissioner Leh; and Tsewang Dorjai, Zonal Head of JK Bank. Baseer-ul-Haq Coudhary, Deputy Commissioner Kargil and Mumtaz Hussain, Director Social Welfare, participated in the meeting from Kargil over video conference.