The Union Government’s direction to all States to issue printed receipts to beneficiaries availing free food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) has triggered a political row in Odisha with the ruling BJD saying this will create a “chaotic situation”.
As per the Central Government, printed receipts will prominently indicate that the free food grains are distributed and the subsidy is borne by the Union Government.
BJD legislator Amar Satpathy said, “When the Union Government takes a decision having bearing on State Governments, it must consult the latter. However, no such exercise has been done in this case. We apprehend this move will lead to chaotic situations and beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (PDS) will bear the brunt.”
All NFSA beneficiaries will be provided food grains free of cost for one year effective from January 1, 2023.
“As you are aware, under NFSA, subsidised food grains are being distributed at Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Re 1 per kg for coarse grains to beneficiaries. The Central Government has now decided to provide free food grains to all NFSA beneficiaries for one year,” the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said in a recent notification.
“Exclusive printed receipt to be printed for NFSA distribution and separate receipt to be printed for state schemes if any. Or any additional quantity if issued,” the Ministry said.
BJP MLA Prakash Soren said, “The Odisha Government now cannot hijack the Central schemes and rebrand them as its own. The Centre has mandated that the State Government must issue print receipts to beneficiaries.”