Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 12: The entire population of Nuapada and Kendrapada districts has applied for benefits under the National Food Security Act, 2013 which is set to be implemented in the state
from October.
“Nuapada and Kendrapada districts have digitised beneficiaries to the extent of 107 per cent and 105 per cent of 2011 population,” wrote, a stunned Food Secretary Madhusudan Padhi to collectors of 30 districts.
He also directed them to take appropriate measures to remove
ineligible applicants from NFSA database.
“It was found that over 90 per cent of population except in Angul, Cuttack, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts has applied for benefits under NFSA, 2013,” Padhi, in his letter said, adding, “Further segregation of blocks and ULBs reveal that 76 blocks and two Urban Local Bodies (ULB)s have more than 100 per cent applicants seeking benefits under NFSA.”
He further expressed his annoyance saying “About 392 lakh names of beneficiaries have been digitised out of a population of 419 lakh enumerated in 2011 census!”
The food secretary said, “Government of Orissa has decided to initiate criminal proceedings against ineligible applicants if they manage to obtain a ration card.”
Stating that people may be unaware of the consequences of taking benefits under NFSA, Padhi expressed the need to create awareness on the Exclusion Criteria along with consequences.”
The awareness measures would be taken up by June 20 and ineligible beneficiaries may withdraw their applications by June 30, he added.
He asked collectors to urge vigilant public to point out the ineligible families who have applied in their areas or whom they know.
“This can be done either by submitting a plain paper note with details of such ineligible families with or without signature of the informant in the offices of Block/ULB/District/FS&CW department by post or in person,” he said.
“The informant can also give information to the toll free Consumer Helpline 1800-3456-724 between 10 AM to 5 PM on all working days,” he added.
He said informant can also send e-mail to fcswsc@ori.nic.in to report about ineligible families.
The state government has fixed six to eight exclusion criteria to delete the name of ineligible
beneficiaries. Around 3.26 crore people would be covered under NFSA in the state.
