Latest news with #NFSA
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 3-lakh beneficiaries in district at risk of losing subsidised wheat due to incomplete e-KYC
Over 3.36 lakh beneficiaries in Ludhiana district—approximately one in every five people on the rolls—are at risk of losing their subsidised wheat under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) starting July 1, as they have yet to complete their mandatory e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) authentication, an official aware of the matter said. This process, mandated by the central government, aims to eliminate ineligible beneficiaries from the public distribution system (PDS). Despite the official deadline for e-KYC completion being set for May 31, and no further extensions expected, the e-KYC drive will continue until June 30, according to officials overseeing the process. The central government had earlier released a notification on March 17, 2023, urging all states and union territories to conduct a 100% e-KYC campaign at Fair Price Shops (FPS) to ensure transparency in NFSA implementation. While Aadhaar has been successfully linked to 99% of ration cards across India, the government has expressed concern over poor biometric authentication and duplicate entries, making e-KYC vital for the accurate rollout of the One Nation One Ration Card scheme. Ludhiana district, which has over 18.09 lakh beneficiaries, has completed e-KYC for approximately 14.7 lakh individuals. However, 3.36 lakh beneficiaries (19% of the total) have yet to authenticate their records and risk losing their access to subsidised wheat. The unverified individuals are mainly from areas with high migrant populations, including Giaspura, Dhandari Kalan, and Focal Point. These localities have been particularly challenging for verification as many migrants frequently travel back to their home states, complicating the process. District food and supplies officials have stated that only families whose heads have completed e-KYC will be eligible for wheat distribution during the July–September quarter. Additionally, the names of deceased beneficiaries have been removed from the records. In Ludhiana, 2,223 deceased beneficiaries were identified, and 2,155 of those names have already been removed from the records. Sartaaj Singh Cheema, district food supplies controller (Ludhiana West), confirmed that approximately 81.38% of e-KYC verifications have been completed in the district. 'We are conducting awareness drives and will share the list of pending beneficiaries with depot holders to ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out of receiving subsidised wheat,' he said.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Food security: Uttar Pradesh to scrap district-wise quota, cover more eligible families
Aiming to bring parity across districts and cover more eligible families, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to abolish the existing district-wise quota of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). While the Centre has fixed a state-wise quota—with separate rural and urban coverage limits—Uttar Pradesh has been following a district-wise cap on the number of beneficiaries. This district-specific allocation often resulted in imbalances. For example, prosperous districts like Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Meerut in western U.P. received a disproportionately higher share, depriving other districts of their fair entitlement. 'We are going to eliminate the district-wise quota of beneficiaries under NFSA and the work in this regard has already begun to ensure eligible beneficiaries in comparatively poorer districts are not deprived of the benefits due to them,' principal secretary, food and civil supplies, Ranvir Prasad said, speaking to HT. The Central government has fixed the population coverage under NFSA at 64.46% in rural areas and 78.54% in cities and allocates the food grain to the state, accordingly -- 7.6 lakh MT of wheat or rice every month to cater to the need of over 3.60 crore families with over 14 crore members. Additional commissioner, food and civil supplies, Satyadev said that the work to increase the share of some needy districts has begun. 'For example, we have recently added 5,000 new beneficiaries each in Sitapur, Barabanki and Lalitpur by deleting the number from Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar,' he said. He said NFSA coverage in all the seven districts in Bundelkhand was being raised to 90% and 85% in all the deserving districts in eastern UP. 'However, the overall limit for the state will remain the same as fixed under the NFSA that is 64.465% for cities and 78.54% for villages. This limit cannot be raised at all,' he said, Officials said doing away with the district-wise cap will enable the state to redistribute entitlements more equitably, strictly adhering to eligibility norms and actual population figures. The restructuring is expected to benefit backward and underserved districts, where many eligible families were left out due to the artificial ceilings imposed by the district quota system. Meanwhile, the department of the food and civil supplies has been placed fourth in disposing of complaints received on the chief minister's IGRS (Integrated Grievance Redressal System portal) as per the report for the month of April. 'Ours has been found to be the fourth best department, after the khadi and village industries, the cooperative and excise in terms of disposal of public grievances on the IGRS portal in April,' Satyadev claimed. The department of industries and infrastructure development, the housing and urban planning, the environment and climate change and women welfare are said to be among the bottom four departments.
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
World Nutrition Day 2025: How To Add More Nutrients To Everyday Indian Meals
Every year on May 28, World Nutrition Day serves as a global reminder of the vital role that nutrition plays in overall health and well-being. The day promotes awareness around healthy eating habits, the importance of balanced diets, and the need to tackle malnutrition in all its forms- undernutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies. It is a reminder of the dual importance of eating well and choosing foods that support environmental sustainability. It's a call to action for individuals, communities, and governments to prioritise local, seasonal, and minimally processed foods that are good for the body. For Indian households, this day is especially relevant. With a rich legacy of plant-based diets and seasonal cooking, Indian cuisine naturally aligns with sustainable food practices. The challenge lies in reviving and enhancing these habits for modern lifestyles. Mr. Shridhar Venkat, CEO of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, tells us, "On the occasion of World Nutrition Day, we are reminded that nutrition is the foundation of good health, which can be achieved by enhancing everyday meals with balanced nourishment. According to PM POSHAN (NFSA), mid-day meals should provide 450 calories and 12 grams of protein for children studying in classes I-V and 700 calories and 20 grams of protein for children in classes VI-VIII. Early nutrition shapes cognitive development, school performance, and long-term well-being, ultimately influencing the economic and social fabric of nations." World Nutrition Day 2025: Here Are 7 Easy Ways To Add More Nutrition To Indian Meals: A well-balanced plate can be enriched with diverse pulses and legumes-such as dal, chana, and rajma-which serve as excellent protein sources. Whole grains like millets (ragi, jowar, bajra), alongside staples like rice and wheat, boost fibre intake and provide essential nutrients for sustained energy. By incorporating diverse seasonal vegetables, whole grains, and locally available ingredients, we can ensure meals are rich in essential vitamins and proteins. 1. Rethink Your Grains Indian kitchens revolve around grains- rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, and ragi. To add more nutrients, start by mixing up your grain game. Swap out polished white rice for brown rice or millets. Millets like foxtail (kangni), little millet (kutki), and barnyard millet (sanwa) are rich in fibre, iron, and magnesium. Try combining whole wheat flour with ragi or bajra for rotis to increase the intake of calcium and iron. Also Read: Fact Check: Foods Rich In Carbs Can Be Healthy Too, Here's A List 2. Power Up Your Pulses Pulses are a staple, but we often overlook their full potential. Soak dals overnight and sprout them to improve digestibility and enhance vitamin C and B complex absorption. Include a variety of lentils in your weekly meals- masoor, chana, moong, urad- not just for taste but to ensure a diverse nutrient profile. Cooking dals with a tadka of mustard seeds, curry leaves, garlic, and asafoetida (hing) not only enhances flavour but improves gut health too. 3. Add Colour With Seasonal Vegetables Indian thalis are known for their variety, but it's easy to fall into a routine with the same few vegetables. Use the rainbow rule- aim to include colourful vegetables like pumpkin, spinach, red bell peppers, carrots, and beetroot. Each colour represents different phytonutrients and antioxidants. Try stir-frying or steaming vegetables to retain maximum nutrients, and avoid overcooking, which often depletes their value. 4. Don't Forget Fermented Foods Fermented foods like curd, dosa batter, idli, kanji, and pickles are traditional Indian superfoods. They are rich in probiotics that support gut health and improve digestion. Including a serving of fresh curd or buttermilk in daily meals can help maintain healthy gut flora, which is essential for absorbing vitamins and minerals efficiently. 5. Fortify Your Cooking Oils Instead of sticking to just one type of oil, rotate between mustard oil, groundnut oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil to balance fatty acid profiles. Cold-pressed and filtered oils retain more nutrients. Also, try including a few seeds like flaxseed, sunflower, or chia, as toppings or in chutneys to increase omega-3 intake. 6. Smart Snacking and Sides Replace fried snacks with roasted chana, nuts, makhana, or homemade laddoos made from jaggery and seeds. Add nutrient-dense sides like leafy green theplas, methi parathas, or chutneys made with mint, coriander, curry leaves, or flaxseeds. 7. Finish With Fruits End meals with a fruit instead of sugary desserts. Papaya, guava, amla, and oranges are rich in vitamin C and fibre. Seasonal fruits are cost-effective and nutritionally richer than cold storage imports. World Nutrition Day 2025 reminds us that mindful eating can be both culturally rooted and forward-thinking. By making simple, sustainable changes to our daily meals, we can nourish our bodies the right way.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Now, married women in UP can easily move their names from father's ration card to hubby's
LUCKNOW In a major relief to married women, the Uttar Pradesh government has simplified the transfer of their names from their parental ration card to their in-laws' ration card under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The new system aims to eliminate manual hassles and ensure that no eligible beneficiary loses entitlements due to marriage-related migration. The move, it is said, will particularly benefit rural women and reinforce the government's commitment to efficient and inclusive welfare delivery. 'After successful trial, we have started a new system under which a woman can easily get her unit (name) transferred from her parental ration card to her husband's ration card, without any inconvenience. She does not need to get her name deleted from the parent's ration card and then again run to get the name added in the in-laws' ration card,' said Ranvir Prasad, principal secretary, food and civil supplies. 'The government feels that no woman, after her marriage, should be deprived of NFSA benefit or face difficulties in avail benefits after marriage,' he added. Currently, women who get married and move to another village/city are required to apply afresh for inclusion in their new family's ration card, often facing cumbersome procedures, delays, and in many cases, the loss of food security units altogether. 'Under the existing system, a woman has to first get her name deleted from the parents' ration card after marriage, and then get her name added to her husband's ration card after producing marriage proof. This is a very cumbersome process and takes months to complete,' said Satyadev, additional commissioner (civil supplies). Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), each member of a priority household is entitled to 5 kg of highly subsidised foodgrains every month. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, this wheat/rice has been provided free of cost to eligible families. In contrast, Antyodaya households — the poorest of the poor — receive a fixed 35 kg of foodgrain per ration card every month, regardless of the number of family members. Uttar Pradesh has about 3.60 crore ration cards covering over 14 crore beneficiaries, 97% of which are registered in the names of women, under both categories. To address the issue of women having difficulties in getting their names added to the ration card of in-laws/husband, the department of food and civil supplies developed a special software that will ensure smooth and swift transfer of NFSA units from the parental family's ration card to that of the in-laws. 'The NIC has developed the unit transfer software enabling any woman to apply online to get her name transferred from her parents' ration card to that of her in-laws/husband in a smooth manner,' Satyadev explained, adding: 'The process will get completed just in two weeks from the date of filing an application online. Under the new system, self-declaration is enough without any requirement of producing any document as proof of marriage.'
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mizoram CM Lalduhoma urges Centre to raise beneficiaries under NFSA
Aizawl, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday urged the Centre to raise the number of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act in the state by 1.7 lakh, an official statement here said. During a meeting with Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi, Lalduhoma informed the Union minister that only 60.26 per cent of the entire ration card holders in the state are now covered under NFSA, the statement said. The chief minister urged Joshi to give additional allocation and increase the number of NFSA beneficiaries by 1.7 lakh in addition to the existing beneficiaries, it said. Joshi assured Lalduhoma of all possible help on his part, the statement added. According to Mizoram Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department director Saizikpuii, the Centre has previously allocated 7,06,296 beneficiaries under the NFSA to avail free food grains, of which 99 per cent has been filled. She said that the state requires more allocation in terms of beneficiaries as many eligible beneficiaries are yet to be covered under the NFSA and that a single-member family of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana or AAY beneficiary will now be included under Priority Households . She expressed hope that all eligible beneficiaries may be covered under the NFSA if the Centre provide additional allocation. Under the NFSA, the AAY beneficiary receives 35 kg of free food grains or rice per family, while the PHH beneficiary receives 5 kg of free rice per person and additionally purchase 3 kg of rice per person at the subsidised rate of ₹15 per kg, according to Saizikpuii. Lalduhoma also called on Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Development of North Eastern Region Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and discussed key development projects in the state on Sunday, official sources said. While the chief minister reviewed important projects in Mizoram under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram and discussed future plans with Rijiju, he also discussed several development projects, including the proposal for the upgradation of Golf Course in Thenzawl in Serchhip district, to international standard and felicitation of markets for local agricultural products with the DoNER minister, the sources said. Scindia on his part assured Lalduhoma that he would pursue the proposal for the upgradation of Thenzawl golf course and assist Mizoram in marketing local agricultural products, particularly ginger and Mizo bird's eye chilli and also development of sports sector in the state, the sources added.
