Odisha to identify NFSA beneficiaries in three phases

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, Aug 4:

The Odisha government has planned to complete the identification of beneficiaries for the implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) in three phases across the state.

While in the first phase, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar block would be covered, the second phase will cover all the urban local bodies of the state, all the remaining blocks of the Khurdha district and the district headquarters blocks of the remaining 29 districts.

The third phase will cover 275 blocks of 29 districts.

It was decided in a recently held meeting chaired by the state Development Commissioner.

For the first phase, ration cards are proposed to be distributed to the beneficiaries, who would be identified by using the National Population Register (NPR) as well as physical verification, in the second fortnight of December this year and they would be put to use with effect from 1st January 2015, revealed a senior government official.

For phase-two, the new ration cards would be made functional from April 2015 and for phase-three, the beneficiaries would avail the benefit of the Act from 1st July 2015.

In order to identify and register the beneficiaries, the government would set up common service centres (CSCs) supported under the National e-governance Plan (NeGP) in each Gram Panchayat.

The official also informed that the Census and RGI director have been asked to find out if there is any duplication in NPR data so that proper foundation of database can be created.

A specific form will be issued to people through Anganawadi workers. This will have to be filled up to avail the benefits.

Under the Act, priority households are entitled to 5 kgs of foodgrains per person per month, and Antyodaya households to 35 kgs per household per month. The combined coverage of Priority and Antyodaya households (called “eligible households”) shall extend “up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population”.

Based on 2011 census population, the number of persons eligible for subsidised foodgrains under TPDS is estimated at about 81.35 crore in India.