The Odisha government today relaxed norms under National Food Security Act (NFSA) to avail subsidised food grains under the scheme.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma said the criterion for applicants owning three-room pucca houses has been relaxed.
"People having three-room houses under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana (BPGY) are now eligible to apply for the ration cards. Earlier, the people having three-room pucca houses were denied NFSA coverage," Dasburma said.
In a relief to those who availed NFSA ration cards despite not fulfilling norms, the minister said they will be exempted from repaying funds for availing food grains and no action will be taken against them if they return their cards within the stipulated time of September 30.
The minister said as many as 6,60,767 persons have been deleted from the list of beneficiaries while 2,06,738 new cards have been issued.
This apart, Dasburma said, eligible beneficiaries who are yet to receive their ration cards will get it in a month. Those persons whose applications have been rejected earlier and left out people can apply for the same within one month.
Stating that Rs 34.83 crore was realised from the persons for availing subsidised food grain with false cards, the minister said, "Those who have paid penalties will get their refund and criminal cases will be withdrawn against the ineligible beneficiaries."
The state government had earlier appealed to ineligible beneficiaries to surrender their ration cards by August 15. Now the deadline has been extended till September 30.
With the state government changing NFSA norms, the BJP has withdrawn its proposed Rourkela bandh on August 11 over discrepancies in ration card distribution.
