5.32 lakh people to benefit from food security scheme
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Dayanand Mandrekar on Tuesday declared that 1.35 lakh beneficiaries under the Dayanand Social Security scheme and 46,000 beneficiaries of the Griha Adhar scheme can avail benefits of the National Food Security Act, 2013 without having to submit additional documents for the same.
Owing to easy availability of the required documents that were submitted by them under the DSSS and Griha Adhar schemes, as many as 75% of the individuals eligible to receive the scheme's benefits can do so by filling out a single form. The scheme is expected to benefit 5.32 lakh persons in Goa.
Revealing the state government’s plan to implement the Act in Goa by the end of September, Mandrekar stated that the application forms for these were available with the MLAs, fair price shops, the office of the Directorate of Civil Supplies and consumer affairs as well as on its website. Besides, the photocopies of the application form can also be used as these are not number-coded. The filled applications maybe submitted to the taluka offices of the department between 9 am and 6.30 pm.
The eligibility criteria are mentioned on the reverse of the application Form A and Form B respectively. June 30 is the last date for submitting applications.
“The department has to forward the first list of beneficiaries to the central government to receive the funds under the scheme. Other eligible applicants can begin applying once the scheme becomes operational by October,” Mandrekar explained.
In addition to this, as per the revised regulations of the Act, the eldest woman will be considered the head of the family in households earning below Rs 50,000 per annum as well as SC/ST households with annual income below Rs 1.2 lakh.
Hence, the state government is also considering linking the Griha Adhar scheme with this scheme.
Besides, the village panchayat secretary and sarpanch have been empowered to issue income certificates which need to be attached along with the application for the National Food Security card.
The implementation of NFSA,2013 and the digitisation of the ration card data in the state is expected to go hand-in-hand. Together, the schemes are expected to wipe out a large number of bogus ration cards in the state.
Mandrekar asserted that work for the digitization of ration card data was on track and that the department has received Rs 1.87 crore for the same. He also mentioned that an Aadhaar-based computerisation of the fair price shops is also under consideration.
Form A: For the beneficiaries of BPL, AAY, ANP, DSSS and Griha Aadhar having annual income of less than Rs 50,000
Form B: For those who are not beneficiaries of any social welfare schemes but are eligible as per the criteria.
Forms are available on www.goacivilsupplies.gov.in as well as at fair price shops
Photocopies of the form can also be used
