National Food Security Act's here to serve 5.11 lakh beneficiaries

All 1.28 lakh household identified by the Department of Civil Supplies will receive an NFSA card allowing them five kgs of food grains per person per month at the subsidized prices of Rs 3 for rice and Rs 2 for wheat. NFSA beneficiaries will also receive a sugar allocation of 500 gms per month per person at a subsidised rate of Rs 13.5 per kg.

Meanwhile, the benefits received under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) will continue.

The Central Act intends to cover 75 per cent rural and 50 per cent of rural population in India. In Goa, the Act will cover almost 36 per cent of the State’s population.

Entitlements of pregnant and lactating women and children between the age group of six months to 14 years have also been ensured.

On implementation of the Act, the State government is expected to spend an estimated amount of Rs 25 crores annually, whereas the Central government will bear the major brunt worth Rs 65 crores annually.

The Act also aspires to offer food security allowance to beneficiaries on non-supply of food grains.

The Goa State Women’s Commission has been designated as the Food Commission for the purpose of this Act.

Transparency portal www.goacivilsupplies.gov.in and grievance redressal mechanisms will ensure accountability. The department has also set up 1967 as the helpline and a toll free number 18002330022 to attend to complaints.

Addressing a packed auditorium at Kala Academy, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar stated, “The Act is aimed at creating a hunger-free India. This Act covers all below Poverty Line households as well as a considerable part of the middle class.”

Referring to the strengthening of the delivery system, he said, “Earlier, the margin was 80 paise per kg to the fair price shop owners. But now, the Act has increased it to Rs 2.30 per kg, which is the highest in the country."

Minister for civil supplies Dayanand Mandrekar assured that in case of errors on the new NFSA cards, the department will ensure rectifications and corrections within three months.

Voicing a crucial request on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mandrekar stated, “I request the CM to push for larger allocation of kerosene to the people. The quota under the former UPA regime was 16 to 20 lakh litres and it has trickled down to four lakh litres since the NDA took over citing exclusion of those beneficiaries with LPG connections. We need a minimum of 8 to 10 lakh litres so that each beneficiary can be offered at least seven to eight litres of kerosene per month.”

It was hinted that majority of the requests received for kerosene came from among the migrant communities.

Mandrekar also urged the people not to consider this Act as a pretext to give up on agriculture and implored them to explore the possibility of growing cash crops.

Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar congratulated the government for continuing the UPA welfare scheme benefitting lakhs of Goans. “Identification of beneficiaries was a great hurdle that the department has overcome successfully. The next challenge will be to ensure 100 per cent supply of food grains to fair price shops and maintenance of quality,” he said.

Panaji MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar, St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh, Chief Secretary RK Srivastava, civil supplies secretary BR Singh and Director of civil supplies Vikas Gaunekar were also present on the occasion.

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WHO WILL BENEFIT?

All 1.28 lakh household identified by the Department of Civil Supplies

WHAT AND HOW MUCH?

* Five kgs of food grains per person per month

* At the subsidized prices of Rs 3 for rice and Rs 2 for wheat

* Sugar (500 gms) per month per person at Rs 13.5 per kg

COVERAGE FOR GOA

The Act will cover almost 36 per cent of the State’s population

OVERALL ANNUAL COST

Goa govt expected to spend Rs 25 cr annually, Centre will bear Rs 65 cr

WHO'S FOOD COMMISSION?

The Goa State Women’s Commission has been designated as the Food Commission for the purpose of this Act