Odisha has reportedly been losing Annapurna rice for which about 6,48,000 beneficiaries are going through tough time, thanks to irregular allocation food grains under the Central scheme.
Under the Annapurna scheme, each beneficiary get 10 kg rice per month free of cost.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Secretary Vir Vikarm Yadav has brought this to the notice of Ministry of Rural Development and urged it for making regular allocation of rice.
According to information, the Ministry used to allocate 648 metric tonnes of rice per month. However no allocation of food grains under the Annapurna scheme has been received by the State for the last two years since 2016-17.
As per the guidelines, the State had to receive 15,552 MT of rice and Rs 11.20 crore for its implementation for the last two years. Only six months’ allocation for 2018-19 has been issued.
As these beneficiaries are very poor, the State Government is providing them required quantity of rice from its State pool.
he Government is now pressing for getting earlier quota, said sources.
Similarly there is net shortfall allocation of wheat by over 29,000 MT under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) during November 2015 to February 2017, consequent upon revision of Central Allocation for the State. The NFSA is implemented in all the 30 districts of the State.
At initial stage of the implementation of the scheme, allocation of rice was much lower than the requirement but allocation of wheat was more.
So, the State Government has requested the Centre to release shortfall allocation of 99, 960 MT Rice and withdrawal of 70,322-MT excess wheat during November 2015 to February 2017.
But the Centre released above quantity of shortfall allocation and withdrawn equal quantity of wheat, leaving shortfall by 29, 639 MT, which has already been distributed to the beneficiaries. This has also put the State Government in an embarrassing situation, said sources.
Now, the State Government has urged the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to take necessary steps for recouping shortfall of wheat allocation.