Chandigarh, Nov 29 (IANS): The Punjab government will launch a new Atta-Dal scheme for nearly 30 lakh 'blue card' holders in the state from Dec 1, a state government spokesman said Friday.

Under the new scheme, the blue card holders - families having annual income of less than Rs.60,000 and land less than 2.5 acres and all 100 yard plot holders in the urban areas - would be distributed wheat at Re.1 per kg and pulses at Rs.20 per kg, he said. Pensioners receiving annual pension less than Rs 60,000 would also be eligible for blue cards.

He said that the Punjab government has decided to widen the ambit of the present Atta-Dal scheme and all present beneficiaries' families would be eligible for this scheme. He said that the government has decided to double the number of below poverty line (BPL) card holders for which selection survey has been launched.

"To empower women in the society, women would be nominated as head of the family in the new blue cards," he said.

The Punjab government had launched its earlier Atta-Dal scheme in 2007.