Odisha Food Security Scheme get Cabinet nod

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Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet Chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved the proposal of Department of Food Supply and Consumer Welfare to start the state’s own food security scheme which will cover the beneficiaries left out by the National Food Security Act (NFSA).The scheme is scheduled to be inaugurated on 2nd October on occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.  The state government will spend an additional  Rs.220 Crore for the scheme.

 

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, Odisha  Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said that as per 2011 Census population, the rate of growth of population in Odisha was 14 Percent in the last decade. The rate of growth translates to an increase in population by 10.22 Percent compared to 2011. The approximate population of the State in 2018 is 4,62,63,983. If the same percentage of 78 Percent coverage (NFSA) is followed, then there is a shortfall in the coverage. The government of India has not considered the State Government’s request to increase the beneficiaries upper ceiling.

The issue was taken up with the Government of India a number of times to increase the target by 34.44 lakh under NFSA.  Chief Minister had also written to the Prime Minister on the issue. However, no response was received from the Government of India.
Hence, Government of Odisha decided to utilise its own resources to cover all poor, distressed and eligible beneficiaries who have been left out under NFSA to be covered under food security.

The Government of Odisha is committed not to leave a single poor, distressed and eligible beneficiary from food security coverage.   The requirement of the required quantity of rice per year will be met out of the State Pool.   The distribution of rice to these new beneficiaries will start from 2 October 2018.

 

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