KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include 34.44 lakh more beneficiaries of the state under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
In his letter to Modi, Patnaik also suggested 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.
This apart, the CM informed the PM that Odisha has successfully implemented the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 by providing ration to the given target of 3,26, 41, 800 beneficiaries which is 78% of the 2011 census population of 4,19,74,218.
“According to 2011 Census data, the rate of growth of population of Odisha was 14% in the last decade. If we extrapolate this date, 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 NMFS Act,” Patnaik mentioned in the letter.
Ms Kalinga