Nagpur: State govt has directed officials in 265 drought-hit talukas to bring eligible families outside the National Food Security Act (NFSA) net into the scheme and provide them free foodgrains. Vidarbha accounts for 95 of these talukas, with the list expected to be expanded soon.A govt resolution (GR) issued by the food, civil supplies and consumer protection department on Friday states that any person in a drought-hit taluka who is not covered under NFSA but seeks free foodgrains must be included under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana or the priority household category. This has to be done within the prescribed income criteria and documentation requirements.The GR also directs officials to account for the ration cards cancelled in each district under Mission Sudhar while issuing cards to eligible beneficiaries in drought-hit areas.To ensure that migration for work or water does not disrupt foodgrain access, the department has stressed strict implementation of ration portability under the One Nation One Ration Card facility. Farm labourers and other residents of drought-hit talukas who move to cities, semi-urban areas or nearby places can collect their entitled foodgrains from any convenient fair price shop, rather than only the shop to which their ration card is attached. Distribution will be facilitated through e-PoS machines after biometric authentication. Details of eligible beneficiaries are available on the AePDS system.Officials have been directed to personally ensure that migration does not leave any eligible family without foodgrains. They must also take the necessary steps to ensure timely and uninterrupted distribution within the targets set by Centre under NFSA.The GR further directs authorities to ensure regular disbursement of direct benefit transfers (DBT) to eligible beneficiaries under the above-poverty-line (APL) scheme and plan ahead to complete the lifting and distribution of NFSA foodgrains within the prescribed period.Officials have also been instructed to prevent black marketing, illegal hoarding and other malpractices in foodgrain distribution.
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