Maharashtra government to cover 99 lakh families under Food Security Act

Despite the decision, a whopping 78 lakh people would still remain out of the NFSA benefits

Four years after being discontinued from the benefits of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the Maharashtra government has again decided to cover the Above Poverty Line (APL) beneficiaries under the act. This would mean that around APL beneficiaries will get food grains at subsidised rates. State food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat announced the decision on Monday.

In January 2016 had decided to include APL beneficiaries saying the decision will be implemented once seeding of Aadhar with ration cards is completed. (HT FILE)

“By linking the Aadhaar cards with ration cards, the state government succeeded in getting rid of around 10-12% bogus ration holders. As a result, the food and civil supplies department is saving more than 3 lakh metric tonnes of food grains every year. Considering this, the government has now decided to include the APL beneficiaries who were discontinued by the state government,” said the food and civil supplies minister.

However, despite the decision, a whopping 78 lakh people would still remain out of the NFSA benefits. The state government had taken a similar decision in January 2014, but could not implement it.

Out of the 8.77 crore ration card holders in the state, around 7 crore ration card holders avail benefits for those under Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme. They get wheat at ₹2 per kg and rice at ₹3 per kg under the NFSA.

The rest of the 1.77 crore APL card holders were also getting same benefits during the erstwhile Congress-NCP government at the state expenses but was discontinued after BJP took over in 2014.

The decision was challenged in the Bombay High Court in the form of Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

In December 2014, the court had asked the state government to reconsider its decision. Following court directives, the state government in January 2016 had decided to include APL beneficiaries saying the decision will be implemented once seeding of Aadhar with ration cards is completed. The exercise was undertaken to eliminate bogus ration card holders.