20% Food Security Act beneficiaries suspect in Himachal

Around 20 per cent National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries in Himachal may be ineligible to avail the benefits of the scheme. The Centre has informed the state government that 5.71 lakh NFSA beneficiaries out of the total 28,24,612 beneficiaries in the state seem to be suspect. The department concerned in the state has pruned the number to 5.32 lakh as the names of around 40,000 beneficiaries figured more than once in different parameters of the scheme on the list shared by the Centre.

“After the Centre flagged the issue, the credentials of the NFSA beneficiaries are being verified through surveys in all 12 districts,” said Surinder Rathore, Additional Director, Food and Civil Supplies. Under the NFSA, the beneficiaries get subsidised and free food grains.

Till date, over 21,000 such beneficiaries have been verified through the on-going surveys in the field and many seem to be flouting one or the other conditions required to avail the NFSA benefits. Among the beneficiaries verified so far, 2,918 individuals own light and heavy vehicles, making them ineligible for the benefits. As many as 2,613 individuals owning vehicles have been found in Solan district alone.

Besides, 966 individuals have been found having an annual income of over six lakh. Again, the highest number of such individuals (821) has been found in Solan district. As many as 3,407 individuals on the list have been found possessing over one hectare of land. Among these individuals, 1,461 are from Mandi district and 766 from Solan district.

As many as 2,167 individuals have been found having dual registration for the scheme, and 8,337 are members of silent ration cards. “Duplicate beneficiaries are those whose names figure in more than one ration card. Silent ration cards are those which have not been used for over six months,” said Rathore.

Besides, 2,222 have been found dead in the survey so far but their names have not been deleted from the ration cards. “Even death certificates have been issued but the names continue to figure on the cards,” said Rathore.

The other anomaly seems to be the significant presence of beneficiaries over 100 years old and u-18 head of families in the ration cards. “The date of birth will be checked in these cases and corrected, if required. The aim behind this survey is to give benefits to the deserving individuals and exclude the ineligible beneficiaries,” said Rathore.