In a bid to spread awareness on Centre’s decision to distribute free rice under the NFSA, Odisha BJP aims to display huge banners of PM Modi at public distribution centres (PDS centres) where rice is distributed to the beneficiaries.
In Odisha alone, at least 3.26 crore beneficiaries will get free grains provided by the Centre under NFSA.
On the other hand, the Odisha government has also announced free rice under its own State Food Security Act, which covers only 9L people, which is a negligible proportion of the population of the State.
The opposition has been alleging that people are often tricked and misled about the fact that free rice is actually coming from the Centre and not the Odisha government. So, the BJP aims to put up banners and posters of PM Modi at fair-price shops and public distribution centres.
“We are planning to put the banners of PM Modi. The tag will read, ‘Free 5kg rice, thanks to PM Modi’. This is not Modi’s call but it is our own decision,” said Leader of the Opposition Jayanarayan Mishra.
On the other hand, ruling BJD MLA Debi Prasad Mishra said, “The main focus should be to provide ration to eligible beneficiaries so that no one is left to die of hunger. The schemes should ultimately be of help to the needy. Doing petty politics in issues related to hunger and food will be of no good for anyone.”
(Reported by Harihar Chand, OTV)