The BJP on Monday termed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s letter to the Prime Minister seeking allocation of PDS rice for eight more months for NFSA beneficiaries in the State as nothing but clearly a helpless and ridiculous move.
BJP State president Samir Mohanty told reporters that under the National Food Security Act, the State Government’s contribution is only 10% whereas the Central Government bears 90% of the expenses.
Besides, every month at least five lakh families in the State are deprived of the benefits under the NFSA, he said and asked the State Government as to who are the bogus beneficiaries.
Mohanty alleged that to maintain his popularity, the Chief Minister is spending the Central grants meant for the vulnerable communities. Even, there has been a regular complaint of State Government misutilising the funds collected under the District Mineral Fund (DMF), he added.