New food scheme gets going

Post News Network

Bhubaneswar, Jan 28: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday rolled out the Digitised Ration Cards scheme under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, at Chakiesiani Ward 5, and said the new endeavour is aimed at ‘maintaining transparency’ in the state’s public distribution system (PDS).
The Chief Minister reaffirmed his commitment to continue providing rice to around 60 lakh families in the state at Re 1 per kilo. The programme was jointly organised by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the state food supplies and consumer welfare (FSCW) department. Said the Chief Minister, “This is a proud moment for the government as the NFSA along with the Digitised Ration Cards schemes is rolled out to ensure that the poorest of the poor gets the benefit of these schemes in a transparent manner.”
The state government would set an example by ensuring transparency in the PDS system. NFSA would be implemented in ways as to ensure that the people from the lower strata get the benefits, he added.
At the programme marking the first phase of the scheme, a select 50 people were given ration cards at the hands of the Chief Minister. Around 1.53lakh people have applied to the BMC for ration cards under the NFSA.
The veracity of their claims is being assessed by the corporation. All the deserving individuals and families would get the cards by March end.
Sixtythree-year-old Kumudini Majhi, the sole survivor of her family, was the first to get the ration card from the CM. She said that, so far, she was depending on her neighbours to feed herself.
Officials said the process of digitisation of rations cards and distribution of cards would be completed by August. Beneficiaries would get rice and wheat thereafter.
“According to NFSA, families under priority group will be provided with five kg of rice and wheat per person per month and 35kg per family under the Centre’s Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY),” BMC project officer (JNNURM), Srimant Mishra, said.