The State Government has failed to implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA), alleged members of the civil society at a Press meet here on Friday. They were discussing on the "Issues relating to implementation of the National Food Security Act in Odisha".
The activists also discussed how thousands of genuine poor families have been deprived of getting ration cards and reeling under food crisis.
Though complaints have been lodged in the State Food Commission, the commission has failed to dispose of a single case within three months, said Food Security Campaign State convenor Pradip Prdhan.
Irregularities in the NFSA beneficiary list is fast turning out to be a big headache for the State Government with the names of ineligible elected people's representatives appearing in it across the State.
"The Government has failed to implement the NFSA on time and the discrepancy in the list has exposed," said Pradhan. lakhs of poor people are yet to get ration cards till now, he added.
The civil society members demanded that the Government issue ration cards to all the eligible poor people immediately.
Pradhan also said that as per the Government's order, thousands of people reapplied for cards in different blocks from October, but they are yet to receive cards.
The members demanded ration cards for the destitute, physically-disabled people and beggars. Open Hand Organisation convener Soumya Ranjan Pradhan, lawyer Sudhir Mohanty and social activists Sanjay Sahu, Sachikanta Pradhan, Arun Dehury and Sanyasi Behera were present, among others.