OSM, RFC protest in Bhubaneswar over NFSA

Bhubaneswar, Nov 28: Challenging the discrepancy in the selection of beneficiaries under NFSA by the State Government, Odisha Shramajivi Manch(OSM) in collaboration with Rights to Food Campaign(RFC) on Friday organised one-day protest Dharana before State Assembly at the Lower PMG here.

Around 200 community people and members of OSM and RFC from Malkanrigi, Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh district participated in the protest dharana.

It is to be noted that while the Central government has allotted for inclusion of 3,26,41,000 beneficiaries under the NFSA in the state, the  Govt. of Odisha has been rolled out NFSA in14 districts (Angul, Bargarh, Boudh, Balangir, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sonepuretc) in the first phase and have  included 26.33 lakh families.

The beneficiaries would get 5 kg of rice or wheat at Rs 3 and Rs 2 respectively from PDS centres in the 14 districts. However, there had been many discrepancies found in the selection of the eligible beneficiaries under NFSA. There have been many protests across the state by the families not included under the act. Besides, the major opposition parties i.e. Congress and BJP have also protested against the BJD government. It is alleged that the government machinery had wrongfully benefited the ineligible persons/families while many socially and economically poor people/families have been excluded under the NFSA.

“The Govt. of Odisha while selecting the beneficiaries under NFSA has followed the 8 exclusion criterion. Latter on it added one more exclusion criteria i.e., pucca houses having three rooms. As a result many families having pucca houses constructed under Indira Awash Yojana and others have been excluded” said Anjan Pradhan, Convenor, OSM. Thus, OAM and RFC have demanded to withdraw the pucca houses having three rooms from the exclusion criteria.

They have also demanded Govt. of Odisha to adopt the recommendation of  2011 Social, Economic and Caste Survey and to directly include 3 crores 69 lakhs and 60 thousands families (which is 88 per cent of the total families in the State) under the NFSA whose monthly income has been less than Rs.5000/-. The protesters have opined that this could effectively deal with the growing unrest in the society and farmers suicide in the State.

Besides, both OAM and RFC have alleged that the BJD Govt. have failed to keep its promise to bring State Food Security Act  in the State which it had made in its manifesto before the last General and Assembly election in 2014.

Both these sangathans have also demanded to include 3 kg pulses, 2 kg Sugar, 1 kg edible oil all @ Rs.10 per kg and iodine salt free of cost per month along with the rice under NFSA. Besides, they have also advocated packed food supply, to open food supply outlet in every village one, local procurement, processing and distribution of food item under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

“Family failed to collect its supplied food items in the due month should be allowed to collect in the next month” demanded Panchnan Pradhan, Senior member of OSM.

Noted journalist Rabi Dash, Panchanan Kanungo (Ex-Finance Minister, Abdul Wali (Republican Party) Sapteswar Mallik, Mangu Jhila from, Arun Prasad Dehudi of OSM and Pradip Pradhan of RFC addressed the the protest Dharana. Manohar Chauhan, Member, Campaign for Survival and Dignity(CSD), Odisha addressing the protest Dharana emphasised on the selection of eligible person/family under NFSA by the gram sabha (village council).

At the end of the programme, a memorandum was submitted to the Odisha government.