The State Government on Monday distributed food grains among 5,34,084 families under National Food Security Act (NFSA) of the remaining 16 districts despite demonstration by beneficiaries at some places.
As many 22,23,109 beneficiaries would be benefitted in the second phase implementation of the NFSA. A total of 5,34,087 families were included under the food security act.
The 16 districts are Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Puri, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Baleswar, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Rayagada and Sundergarh.
Beneficiaries would be provided with rice at `3 per kg and wheat at `2 per kg under the Central scheme.
However, at Itamati in Nayagarh district beneficiaries excluded from the scheme gheraoed the local BDO alleging irregularities in distribution of digitised ration cards.
The protestors led by Itamati panchayat sarpanch Manoj Sahu blasted at Nayagarh district Collector and BDO for the irregularities.
“A gross irregularity has taken place in distribution of digitised ration cards. I have been highlighting the irregularities before the Collector on many occasions, but no avail,” said Sahu.
In another incident, deprived beneficiaries in Nuapada district locked Komana sarpanch protesting irregularities.