With the Delhi Government deciding to merge the Anna Shree Yojna with the Food Security Scheme launched by the UPA Government in September last year, officials said around 7.5 lakh more people would start getting their entitlements under the scheme from April. At present, around 32 lakh people are receiving highly subsidised rations in the city under the Food Security Scheme. “Since the launch of the scheme, we have received around 15 lakh applications. While data entry of around 8 lakh applications has been completed, we have also conducted field inspection of around 2 lakh applicants. Around 1.5 lakh applications were found to be genuine and the process of issuing smart cards to the eligible applicants has been initiated. They are likely to start getting their entitlements from the beginning of the next financial year,” said S. S. Yadav, Secretary (Food and Civil Supplies). As per the National Food Security Act, 2013, all families holding ration cards are entitled to subsidised food grains at the rate of 5 kg per member per month. While around 72 lakh people would ultimately be covered under the scheme in Delhi, around 3.5 lakh families (32 lakh people) holding ration cards under different schemes like Below Poverty Line, Antyodaya Anna Yojna and Jhuggi Ration Card are getting subsidised rations. As per the Act, all beneficiaries have to be identified and covered under the scheme by July 5, 2014. Apart from identifying new beneficiaries and issuing them smart cards, the Department is also renewing the ration cards of the existing card holders. Officials said the exercise has also helped them in checking duplication and bogus ration cards. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has also decided to merge with the Food Security Scheme its cash benefit transfer scheme Anna Shree Yojna, under which the eldest female members of 1 lakh families were receiving Rs. 600 per month directly into their bank account. The amount was fixed considering the difference between the market rate of ration and those being given to ration card holders. Officials said the cash scheme was launched two years back due to the cap on the ration card holders enforced by the Centre in 2007. But with the cap now increased to 14.5 lakh families under the Food Security Scheme, the cash transfer scheme lost relevance.