Centre asks states to bring 1.97 cr poor under food security coverage

NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked state governments to launch a “special drive” to identify nearly 1.97 crore poor, particularly from the and most vulnerable groups such as street dwellers, rag pickers, hawkers and rickshaw pullers, who can get the ration cards to avail highly subsidized foodgrain every month under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The ministry, in its communication to all states, has cited that they can utilize the available coverage under the NFSA limits for this. In response to a question from TOI, food secretary Sudhanshu Pandey shared the number of ration cards that the states and UTs can issue without breaching the ceiling fixed for each state under the NFSA. He said 14 states have a 100% coverage quota. The states have been deleting fake or duplicate ration cards to prevent leakage of highly subsidized foodgrains and also been adding new bonafied beneficiaries.
According to the circular, there are several reports and grievances through media, NGOs and individuals that vulnerable and weakest sections of the society, who are in dire need of foodgrains, are unable to procure ration cards. “It is felt that some of the poor and needy people, who also may not have address proof, may be finding it difficult to obtain a ration card,” it said while urging them to undertake the special drive. The states have been asked to submit fortnightly reports on this.
Talking to reporters, Pandey also said states Bihar, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh have seen higher transactions under the One Nation One Ration Card scheme to get the subsidized foodgrain from any ration shop of beneficiaries’ choice within their home state or outside. The government data show that out of the total 19.8 crore such transactions in the past 13 months, Bihar registered a maximum of 1.17 crore transactions followed by 91 lakh in Rajasthan, 42 lakh in Andhra Pradesh and 35 lakh Telangana.
On the progress of free 5 kg foodgrain to NFSA beneficiaries under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna, the ministry said 55 crore beneficiaries in May and about 2.6 crore beneficiaries in June have received them.