Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday writes Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to ensure food security to additional 34.44 lakh beneficiaries of Odisha under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
In his letter, Naveen apprised the PM that Odisha was given a target of 3,26,41,800 beneficiaries, which was 78% of the 2011 census population of 4,19,74,218, for implementation of NFSA. We have successfully implemented the programme and are providing ration to the beneficiaries regularly, he added.
I am happy to share that under NSFA, Odisha has performed well on most of the parameters, he mentioned.
According to 2011 census data, the rate of growth of population of Odisha was 14% in the last decade. If we extrapolate this data, then in 2018 the population of Odisha has increased by 10.22% as compared to 2011. It is estimated that the total population of Odisha in 2018 would be 4,62,63,983. Allowing the same percentage of coverage as was decided when the act came into force, then we are entitled to cover 3,60,85,907 beneficiaries under the NFS Act, he informed.
In view of the foregoing, it is requested that additional 34.44 lakh beneficiaries may be sanctioned for the State of Odisha to ensure food security to all eligible persons to serve the objective of the act, he requested.
Besides, I would also suggest that a mechanism may be put in place wherein the target is modified at regular intervals to increase the coverage of the beneficiaries in accordance with the increase in population, Naveen concluded.
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