New Delhi: The Union government informed parliament on Tuesday (March 25) that against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Scheme (NFSS), 80.56 crore beneficiaries have been identified by states, which means that about 79 lakh beneficiaries are yet to receive free food grains.
During question hour in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, when Congress MP Jairam Ramesh asked how the government plans to fill this gap, Union consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister Pralhad Joshi said that the identification of beneficiaries is the state governments’ responsibility.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question by Biju Janata Dal MP Niranjan Bishi, Joshi said that the National Food Security Act (NFSA) provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural and up to 50% of the urban population, which as per the 2011 census adds up to 81.35 crore persons.
Joshi said that the identification of beneficiaries is a continuous process conducted by the state governments.
“At present, against intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are identified by the States/UTs under the Act. The identification of beneficiaries by States/Union Territories is a continuous process, which involves exclusion of ineligible/fake/duplicate ration cards and also exclusion on account of death, migration etc. and inclusion on account of birth as also that of genuine left-out households,” he said in his written reply.
During question hour, while answering supplementary questions, Joshi said that there are 79 lakh people yet to receive free rations against the target set by the government.
In his supplementary question, Ramesh said that according to the “minister’s own admission” about 80 lakh Indians who are entitled to get free rations under the Act are not getting rations.
“How will this gap between intended beneficiaries and identified beneficiaries be filled up?” he asked.
Ramesh added that with the 2021 census not being conducted yet, about 14 crore Indians who are eligible under the NFSA are not receiving benefits. “When will the 2021 census be conducted so that the NFSA is updated in terms of free distribution of food grains?”
“The gap that he is referring to, the government of India has given a ceiling limit. According to this ceiling limit, state governments decide their own criteria and can make additions and deletions [of beneficiaries]. Census is not related to my department,” said Joshi.
“Finding the right beneficiaries is the state government’s work. We are reminding the state government again and again,” he added, saying that a meeting had been held by the ministry with state governments over the issue as well.
