MLAs raise concern over NFSA benefits

BHUBANESWAR: Opposition and treasury bench members on Saturday expressed concern over non-coverage of deserving beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. The issue was raised during question hour, when food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma was replying to a query from Congress MLA Chiranjeev Biswal.
BJD MLA Padmanabh Behera said the government should identify those who have been left out of the National Food Security Act."Many people are raising the issue with us. We are unable to face them," Behera said. His views were shared by party colleague Bed Prakash Agarawala besides many Congress and BJP MLAs.
The minister said revision of NFSA list is a constant process and the MLAs should help his department identify the beneficiaries who have been left out and also if there are ineligible candidates using up benefits. He also said the government has approached the Centre to let it open kerosene outlets outside the public distribution system for those who need it but are not covered under the NFSA.
In written reply to another query, the minister said the government has so far identified 1.19 lakh ineligible beneficiaries under NFSA and collected Rs 42.13 crore fine from them. "Criminal cases were registered against 6786 ineligible beneficiaries. Following a government decision, steps are being taken to return the fine amount and withdraw the criminal cases against them," Das Burma said.
"After implementation of the NFSA, a total of 85.90 lakh ration cards were distributed covering 3.22 lakh people," the minister added.