Latest news with #NationalFoodSecurityAct
Hindustan Times
11 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
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Procurement of oilseeds and pulses lagging behind cereals
Recent efforts by the Centre to ramp up output of pulses and oilseeds, which the country imports heavily, such as procurement at minimum support prices (MSP) have been inconsistent, as the key beneficiaries of MSPs continue to be water-guzzling cereals such as rice and wheat, latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) figures show. While procurement of pulses and oilseeds by the government has increased by several times, it is still far lower than that of wheat and rice. India grows plentiful cereals, but not enough pulses and oilseeds, the imports of which are a key factor that stokes inflation and also causes a drain of precious foreign exchange for regular imports The Modi government has adopted a two-pronged strategy to encourage farmers to grow more lentils and oilseeds. While the government has consistently announced higher MSPs for pulses and oilseeds as an incentive for farmers, compared to cereals, the Union cooperation as well as the food ministries have been pressing state-backed cooperatives to procure these items from farmers. Procurement, the cornerstone of India's food policy, refers to the government's purchase of food commodities at MSPs, which are federally fixed floor rates aimed at offering a minimum of 50% returns over cost of cultivation. Yet figures show that procurement of cereals far outstrips pulses or oilseeds. According to the latest official data, the Centre procured 77.86 million tonnes of cereals (52.26 million tonnes of rice and 26.26 million tonnes of wheat) during the 2024-25 agricultural crop year. Compared to this, the government was able to procure only 4.6 million tonnes of pulses and 0.6 million tonnes of oilseeds. During the winter-sown, or rabi, season of 2024-25, state agencies procured 0.43 million tonnes of pulses, especially gram, according to the recently released Reserve Bank of India annual report. To be sure, procurement of cereals is higher because foodgrains tend to have a far larger marketable surplus (total output minus total consumption of growers). Moreover, India also needs to stockpile large quantities of wheat and rice for distribution to nearly 800 million beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. Official data show a see-sawing, inconsistent trend in pulses procurement. Figures presented in Rajya Sabha in response to an unstarred question on Dec 6, 2024 showed that in 2019-20, the government procured 2.8 million tonnes of pulses; which in 2020-21 fell to 0.81 million tonnes. In 2021-22, state agencies procured 3.3 million tonnes; in 2022-23, 2.8 million tonnes and in 2023-24, 0.69 million tonnes. The Union Budget 2025-26 had announced that 100% of a state's production of pigeon pea (tur), black gram (urad) and yellow lentils (masoor) will be procured for the next four years till 2028-29 to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses in the country. Pulses and oilseeds are purchased under the Centre's price support scheme, which falls under an umbrella scheme called the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). 'The government has signalled a commitment to substantially increase procurement of pulses. But more needs to be done for it to act as a nudge to grow more,' said Abhishek Agrawal of UN Comtrade.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
100 days of BJP rule in Delhi: Ayushman Bharat off to a smooth start, Arogya Mandirs still await impact
In its first 100 days in power in Delhi, the ruling BJP has delivered one of its key promises — implementing the Centre's flagship Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) scheme, which claims to be the largest-of-its-kind health insurance scheme in the world. The rebranding of the primary healthcare centres — from mohalla clinics under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to Arogya Mandirs — is yet to make an impact. Reality check With at least 550 patients availing services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, 62 hospitals being empanelled under the state health authority, and 3.16 lakh beneficiaries being registered, the scheme appears to be off to a smooth start. Sources say more than 30,000 beneficiaries — aged 70 and above — have registered under the insurance scheme that gives a total health cover of Rs 10 lakh. Beneficiaries are selected based on National Food Security Act (NFSA) data, and Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011. While Centre offers a cover of Rs 5 lakh, the Delhi government provides an additional top-up of Rs 5 lakh to those eligible, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had said after the Delhi Cabinet's first meeting. The government has also provided Ayushman cards for senior citizens aged 70 and above, eligible to get their medical expenses covered at empanelled government and private hospitals in the city, under Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY). The Delhi government has planned to deploy mobile vans across the city for door-to-door registration for elderly citizens. However, the challenge for the government is the empanelment of private hospitals, as major players such as Apollo and Max hospitals, are yet to get onboard. The National Health Authority (NHA) dashboard says a total of 93 hospitals have been empanelled, which includes 82 private hospitals and 11 public hospitals. The list accessed by The Indian Express mentioned a total of 62 hospitals, including both private and public hospitals. Of the 62 private hospitals providing services under Ayushman Bharat, nine are dedicated eye care hospitals. Along with this, hospitals also had general medicine, general surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology and cardiology. Representing the Association of Healthcare Providers, India (APHI), Dr Vipender Sabherwal, convenor for the Ayushman Bharat scheme, says, 'It's a very good scheme but we need to do a reality check'. 'We have been in touch with the Union Health Ministry and the government officials on pricing and rates, which do not match the requirements of any good hospitals with all facilities. The amount, which is being offered to the hospitals is meagre, and not practical. Even our payments were not being made on time under Ayushman Bharat. Even the big names,' he adds. Dr Vipender Sabherwal says the doctors' associations will get in touch with the government again to discuss things. AHPI represents about 15,000 private hospitals, including Fortis, Max Healthcare, Manipal, Medanta, Narayana and Apollo. How primary healthcare fared With the shutting of mohalla clinics and the setting up of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, not much has changed when it comes to primary healthcare in the city. Soon after coming to power, the BJP government decided to establish Jan Arogya Mandirs in place of AAP's flagship mohalla clinics and Delhi government dispensaries. While the Jan Arogya Mandir is yet to be officially inaugurated, the BJP government has readied at least four such clinics — one each in Todapur, Bhanwar Singh Camp in Vasant Vihar, Mayapuri and Inderpuri. This is part of the Centre's flagship Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission scheme (PM-ABHIM), which has been implemented in the Capital. Officials have received instructions to complete the construction of 33 Ayushman Arogya Mandir by May 29. The distribution of these 33 centres includes 20 facilities being established in Public Works Department (PWD) structures, including one at the Delhi Secretariat. Additionally, 11 centres will operate from Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) locations, while two will be situated in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) buildings. Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh had said that the government will open 200 such centres in the next two months. The Arogya Mandir provides 12 comprehensive service packages, including maternal and child healthcare, vaccinations, mental health services, elderly care, and treatment for communicable diseases. When The Indian Express visited an Arogya mandir in Central Delhi's Inderpuri, locals said the clinic is providing similar services as it was providing when it was a mohalla clinic. The facility is supposed to maintain an essential drug list of 256 medicines. In-house tests will be made available for blood sugar, haemoglobin, blood group, urine, pregnancy, among others. Ninety other tests will be outsourced to Agilus Lab. Free dialysis CM Rekha Gupta had announced adding 300 dialysis machines across 16 government hospitals in the first 100 days of her rule, making free dialysis services available to the economically weaker sections and subsidised treatment available to all others. Currently, 150 dialysis machines are operational at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital (North West), Guru Gobind Singh Govt. Hospital (West), Indira Gandhi Hospital (South West), Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital (South), Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital (North West), Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (West), Maharishi Valmiki Hospital (North), Lok Nayak Hospital (Central), Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (Shahdara), and Dr. Hedgewar Aarogya Sansthan (Shahdara). An additional 150 dialysis machines are now being installed at six more government facilities: Dr. Baba Sahib Ambedkar Hospital (North West), Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital (North East), Burari Hospital (Central), Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital (West), Ambedkar Nagar Hospital (South), and Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital (North West). These additions will expand the capacity and geographic reach of free and subsidized dialysis services for Delhi's citizens. This initiative is being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program (PMNDP) and PPP Dialysis Project of the Delhi government. It includes 150 machines already operational under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) and PPP Dialysis Project. An additional 150 machines are now being added as part of improving public healthcare infrastructure. Of the 300 dialysis units in Delhi government hospitals, many are yet to be installed.
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.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre flags 90,000 inactive ration cards in Telangana, govt begins verification drive
Hyderabad: The Centre has raised concerns with the Telangana govt over a significant number of food security card holders (ration card beneficiaries), who are either not availing their monthly public distribution system (PDS) entitlements or doing so inconsistently. According to official data, nearly 90,000 card holders in Telangana fall into this category. The Union govt maintains a real-time database of centrally-approved food security cards across all states, which gets updated each time a beneficiary draws subsidised rice or essential commodities from a fair price shop. For every valid transaction, the Centre extends a subsidy on the rice supplied under the National Food Security Act. In Telangana, the Centre has sanctioned approximately 53 lakh ration cards. However, it has flagged around 90,000 of these as inactive or irregular in usage. Telangana, on its part, has issued over 90 lakh ration cards in total, with the state govt independently bearing the cost of rice for those not covered under the Centre's quota. In response, the Telangana govt has launched a field-level verification drive to investigate the status of the 90,000 flagged beneficiaries. Initial findings suggest that some card holders have passed away due to old age or illness, but their cards were never formally cancelled. In other cases, families may have migrated to other states and are potentially drawing rations there under a different card. "There are instances where individuals are listed on two ration cards, leading to inactivity on one of them," said a senior official from the Telangana Civil Supplies Corporation. Another common reason cited is the use of ration cards solely for accessing welfare schemes such as Aarogyasri, where holding a ration card is mandatory—even if the individual does not collect rice. Some card holders also claimed they had stopped taking coarse rice, which was the standard offering under the PDS until recently. "Now that the Congress govt has begun distributing fine rice through fair price shops, we expect many dormant card holders to resume using their cards," the official added. Once the field verification is completed, the state govt will compile and submit a detailed report to the Centre. Based on the findings, a decision will be made on whether to cancel the cards flagged as inactive or retain them with updates.
