Odisha Govt is committed to implement NFSA: Minister

Bhubaneswar, Oct 5: Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, Minister, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare said that as per the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 the state government will set up State Food Commission and District Grievance Offices in all districts before starting the distribution of food grains.

He said that the distribution of food grains will be started in 14 districts from November 1 and in remain 16 districts from December 1. He added that the process of setting up necessary offices as per the act is under progress and state government is committed to ensure food security to all beneficiaries in the state.

For the selection of beneficiaries, the state government has listed six eligibility criterias and nine-cut off criterias as per the NFSA, he said. The Odisha government has been framing further rules for the effective selection of beneficiaries into the scheme. Recently the state government has started distribution of ration cards for the effective implementation of food security act in the state. The minister said that vigilance committees have been set up for the effective implementation as around 3.26 crore people in the state would benefit from the scheme.

Officials have been engaged with Data Management System centres at every block and towns to rectify error in the newly prepared ration cards within three months of time. In order to bring more transparency in the scheme, data are being uploaded to public domain, the minister said in a statement here.

He alleged the central government of delaying in providing the NPR data to the Odisha government despite repeated approach by the top officials. After intervention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the data was provided to the state government; as a result the selection of beneficiaries has been delayed in the state. He said that the state government is committed for the effective execution of food security scheme in Odisha state.