Odisha to launch FSA in Sept, to benefit 3.26 crore people

All set to launch the National Food Security Act in the state from September, Odisha government today said 3,26,41,800 people would be covered under the scheme, officials said.
As per the central government guidelines, 78 per cent of rural population and 56 per cent of people in urban areas of the state have been identified to get the benefit under the NFSA based on the 2011 census report, said Food and Supplies Secretary M S Padhy, adding that over all 78 per cent of Odisha's population would be covered under the scheme.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will launch the distribution of digitised ration cards under the NFSA in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar block tomorrow, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma said.

The chief minister will launch the distribution of cards at a function at Chakeisiani in Ward No 5 of BMC, he said.
A record 1.86 lakh people have applied for the digitised ration cards in BMC and Bhubaneswar block, Dasburma said, adding that the process for applying for digitised ration cards under NFSA in other remaining districts would also begin from tomorrow.
Prior to the rollout of NFSA, the identification would be carried out on the principles of exclusion criteria. The process beginning from January 28 would end on August 15 and the PDS beneficiaries would be eligible to avail food grains and other commodities with their new ration cards from September this year, officials said.

Based on the eight notified exclusion criteria, all citizens who deem themselves to be eligible for ration cards will have the opportunity to apply for it during a specified period.
The eligible families will be required to register themselves by filling up a short registration form, which requires the name of at least two members of the family along with name of their father and spouse.
The registration form will be available at registration centres to be set up at gram panchayats in rural areas and at the level of wards in urban areas.