State Government after realising its inability to induct more number of beneficiaries into the cover of the Food Security Act (FSA) in Jharkhand has decided to approach the Center to help it out.
Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Saryu Roy wrote on Friday to the Secretary of the Department to approach the Center requesting it to revise the quota of ration cards allocated to the State.
“As per the present provisions made in the FSA, 2013 Jharkhand can provide coverage to maximum 2,64,43,330 persons only which is based on the 2011 census data. “Population of the State is expected to reach 3,78,57,182 by December this year as per the growth rate which is 1.64 per cent annual. Since the Act was passed, about 9,73,810 new households have been added in comparison of 2011. We are under pressure to add more families under the FSA cover and thus help of Center is required,” said Saryu Roy.
Latest figures with the Department suggest that over 7,94,844 applications for getting fresh ration cards are laying before it for approval. “There is great deal of pressure from the people to get ration cards in order to avail benefits under the FSA. The Minister has written to the Department. We are examining it and would be readying an application to request the Center. The request would be made to revise the limit in accordance with the expected population of the State going to be by December 2019 along with quota of ration the State gets every month. The application would be sent to the Center by next week,” said Amitabh Kaushal, Secretary with the Department.
Moreover sources with the Department are of the view that it is very difficult to get the list revised midway. “The next census is just two years away. Also how can the Center do it for one individual State? It has not been done so far in the country,” said an official.