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Bhubaneswar: With an aim to fulfil its promises made in the poll manifesto during 2014 general elections, the ruling party is mulling to bring a State-level food security act on basis of 2011 census data.
The Food Supplies department has sent a proposal to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on formulation of a State food security act under which more than 50 lakh people will get rice at Re 1 per kg.
According to sources, economically weaker & lower middle class people of the society who were left out of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), will be included under the proposed scheme.
Surya Narayan Patro, Food Supplies Minister, said, "13% of the State's populace, who have been excluded under NFSA but are eligible, will get the benefits once the State's food security act comes into force."
The department has already sent the proposal to Chief Minister for approval, Patro added.
Tax payers, persons owning four-wheelers and three-wheelers, government staff and pensioners and persons working in the corporate sector would not be eligible under the State food security act, sources said.
Earlier, Odisha had urged the Centre to include 15 lakh more beneficiaries under the NFSA. Till date, 3.26 crore beneficiaries have been registered under the Centre's NFSA.
Meanwhile, the general public especially home makers in the State are quite optimistic about the proposed State-level food security act.
Sunita Dalai, a resident in Bhubaneswar, said, "Prior to the NFSA we used to have a ration card. However, it was taken away by the government citing new rules under the NFSA. If the State implements any new scheme, it would be quite beneficial."
