The State Government has decided to give out the entire State quota of kerosene among all the NFSA beneficiaries on per-head basis and to stop distributing a part of it to bulk consumers and non cardholders.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday asked the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FS&CW) Department to allocate the monthly quota of 3, 24, 76,000 liters (32,476 kilo liters) of kerosene among the NFSA beneficiaries.
Official sources said FS and CW Minister Sanjay Dasburma had proposed such a move.
With the implementation of the NFSA across the State from December, 2015, the old ration cards of the BPl, APl and AAY families would be invalid, sources added.
While the first phase of the NFSA has been implemented in 14 districts since November 14, the second phase would begin in the rest 16 districts from December. As of now, a total of 2, 94, 49,086 beneficiaries have been listed in all 30 districts, and this number is likely to go up to 3.26 crore, said officials.
As of now, a total of 79, 15, 355 ration cards have been issued to families consisting of 2, 94,49, 086 population.
As per earlier practice, after getting quarterly kerosene quota, the Government used to re-allocate it to the districts on the basis of the old ration cards numbering 83.98 lakh.
A part of the quota was being given to district police, prisons, medical and educational institutions and non cardholders through local haats and chhak sale centres.
Notably, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its audit report for the year 2012-13 had recommended for distribution of kerosene to the targeted beneficiaries and not to the bulk consumers and non cardholders.