Odisha asks for 7 months’ time to implement Food Security Act

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

New Delhi, July 4:

The Odisha government today asked the Centre for seven months’ time to implement the Food Security Act in view of the anomalies in the list of prospective beneficiaries of the Act in the state.

Participating in the meeting of Food and Civil Supplies ministers of states here today, Odisha’s minister for Food, supplies and Consumer Affairs Sanjay Dasburma said in view of the flaws in the database for ration card holders in Odisha, the state government had decided to prepare the list of beneficiaries on the basis of the National Population Register (NPR) and had requested the Registrar General of India (RGI) and Census commissioner for updated data in this regard.

However, the district wise data was yet to be received except for Khurda district, he said requesting the central government to help expedite the process.

The norms for selection of beneficiaries had already been finalised and tender process for supply of digital ration cards completed, the minister said requesting the Centre to allow the state government seven month’s time for the implementation of the Act.

Coming down strongly against the tendency of some state governments to impose restrictions on the transport of goods produced in their states outside in violation of the national policy, Dasburma urged the Centre to intervene in the matter urgently.