Odisha asks Collectors to delete ineligible names from food security scheme

Collectors have been told to conduct a strict scrutiny and prepare a list of only eligible beneficiaries

Miffed by huge number of ineligible and bogus applications for access to food grains at concessional rate under the food security scheme, the state government today asked district Collectors to conduct a strict scrutiny and prepare a list of only eligible beneficiaries. According to data received by state food supply department, in districts such as Nuapada, the number of applicants for coverage under the scheme is 107 per cent of the district's populations as per 2011 census. Similarly, the number of applicants in Kendrapara is 105 per cent of the district's population.

The department also detected similar anomalies in case of 76 blocks and two municipalities across the state.

"We have directed the Collectors to delete the names of people from the list as per the exclusion criteria notified by the government," said Sanjay Dasburma, state food supplies minister.

According to the public announcement posted on the website of the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, owners of motor vehicles (including two and three wheelers), registered fishing boats and agricultural equipment such as tractors will be excluded from the scheme.

Besides, families with any member with monthly income above Rs 10,000, pensioners receiving Rs 10,000 or more per month and families with members paying income tax or professional tax will not be eligible.

Families with a landline telephone connection and electricity connection with 2Kw or more with usage crossing 300 units a month will also not be covered by the scheme as per the exclusion criteria.

It also mentions that any family which has a member as Union government employee or serving the state government, public sector or autonomous institutions aided by government and the municipality, will not be enlisted as a beneficiary of the cheap food supply scheme.

The National Food Security Act aims to provide subsidised foodgrain to 82 per cent rural and 56 per cent urban poor of the country. As per guidelines, about 3.26 crore people of Odisha are eligible for the scheme. However, the number of registration has topped 3.92 crore.

In the recent direction to Collectors, the government has ordered to educate people about the exclusion policy by drawing wall painting in villages by June 20. If ineligible families do not withdraw their applications within June 30, then criminal proceedings will be initiated against them, it said.