Growing pressure from the members and reports about incorrect entries into the beneficiaries list of Food Security Act made the Government to extend last date for enrollment ending December 31.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Saryu Roy on Monday agreed in the House about several flaws existing into the list and convinced to the demand extending it till January 31.
“We have made the list based on Social-Economic Survey and 2.33 crore beneficiaries have been named under FSA here. We later also verified the data which suggest that there 86521 duplicate names and about 1.68 lakh beneficiaries have been listed with zero family member. Considering the lacunas we are open to extend the last date,” said Roy replying to the special debate on the issue.
As per the guideline set by the Centre, Jharkhand can provide food cover to 2.64 crore persons. Roy added that still lot of scope is there to include new names into it which would continue hinting that the Government may also alter with the criteria fixed for eligibility.
He also said that acting on the directions of the Supreme Court the Government would provide 10 kgs food grains to the beneficiaries free of cost due to drought. Besides food grains, the Government is also acting to furnish ration cards of a different colour for all those who want kerosene at controlled price irrespective of FSA beneficiary status.