Bhubaneswar: As Odisha Government is going to distribute ration to the Food Security beneficiaries from tomorrow under the One Nation One Ration initiative, it has assured that no bona fide person will be deprived of it as the Aadhar seeding last date has been extended till September 15 instead of August 31 slated earlier.
The State Government has also extended the last date for registration of farmers till September 10 so that all the genuine farmers could reap the benefit during the paddy procurement process.
This was informed today by Odisha Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare and Cooperation Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain at the Lok Seva Bhawan here.
Talking to media, the Minister said, “Today (August 31) was the last date for Aadhar linking with ration card. From tomorrow (September 1), ration distribution will start in the entire State. The beneficiaries have to available an Aadhar linkage. Till date, there are 3.26 crore beneficiaries as per the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and 97.7% Aadhar-linked family ration cards. Individually, 93.5% beneficiaries have their Aadhar seeding. These beneficiaries are all coming under Food Security Act and avail the benefits.”
He informed, “Those who have been left out from Aadhar seeding, we are allowing them a last chance to show their ration card at our government fair price retail outlets where immediately the seeding will be done and the beneficiaries will be distributed ration. Some people are under such a condition, like terminally ill, extremely old and unable to move outside their homes. They have Aadhar cards but have not yet done the seeding. Suppose there is a leprosy patient or genuine person who has been unable to go in for the Aadhar linking. Hence, we are allowing them time. We have directed our officials concerned to certify that they are genuine people and we have assured to provide them with the ration immediately under the Food Security Scheme even though the cards without Aadhar link.”
“The persons have been allowed to link their cards with Aadhar link till September 15. No one will be deprived of the Food Security benefits. The genuine persons will be given away the benefits anyhow,” assured the Minister.
The Minister, who also holds the Cooperation portfolio, further informed, “Our six teams from the RCS office toured the whole State for the seeding of farmers. Today we will get the final report as one team will reach here. Now the cultivation activities of the farmers are going on.”
“Some farmers have also been unable to submit their applications and our server was also fully down on August 20 and 21. The forms received from the farmers have not been entered to our data base. Hence, our teams have urged us for extension of time for the purpose. We’ll also allow time to the farmers till September 10,” he announced.
