The Vijay Rupani Government in Gujarat has added 30 lakh beneficiaries under the food law in the recent past and it is in the process of identifying more people for coverage under this Act. The State Government informed this in a review meeting of the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), under which 5 kg of wheat and rice are being provided per person per month at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 2-3 per kg. Over 80 crore people are covered under this Act.
Union Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey reviewed the NFSA implementation and other allied matters with the Gujarat Government at Gandhinagar, an official statement said. During the meeting, he said there is possibility of including more beneficiaries under the NFSA.
“State Government informed that 30 lakh beneficiaries have been added in the recent past and they are in process of identifying more beneficiaries through convergence with other central programmes like National Social Assistance programme, etc,” the statement said.
As production of both wheat and paddy is higher than annual requirement of foodgrains of Gujarat State under the NFSA, it was observed that there is potential of augmenting procurement.
“It was emphasised that State Government should target procuring to the extent of annual requirement which would not only benefit local farmers but also save the transportation cost which is incurred in bringing food grains from other States,” the statement said, adding that the acceptance of locally cultivated food grains would also be higher among local population.
Pandey informed that automatic grain dispensing machines are being tested in five cities on pilot basis that enable beneficiaries to obtain subsidized food grains without having to visit FPS to provide freedom to the beneficiaries.
The Gujarat Government expressed its willingness to install such machines in Ahmedabad city on a trial basis.