NDA providing free ration systematically: Joshi slams UPA

Joshi asserted that it was only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government took office in 2014 that the scheme was implemented properly and systematically, ensuring free ration to 80 crore people across the country.

His remarks came in response to Congress MP Praniti Shinde, who raised concerns about beneficiaries in Maharashtra not receiving free ration due to biometric mismatches. She pointed out that the NFSA was the brainchild of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, aimed at providing subsidised foodgrain to the poor.

Shinde questioned whether the government had any offline mechanism to ensure food security for people whose biometrics fail to match. She cited examples of bidi workers in Solapur, who often suffer from boils on their palms, preventing successful biometric authentication.

She also highlighted that 40-50 per cent of those not covered under NFSA were missing out on free ration and demanded a timeline for their inclusion.

However, instead of directly addressing her concerns, Joshi launched a political attack on the Congress, accusing the party of enacting the NFSA without adequate planning.

“The Congress introduced the Food Security Act in 2013 only because of the elections. It was done in a haphazard manner and even the rules under the Act were not framed,” Joshi alleged.

Defending the Modi government’s handling of food security, Joshi said the “One Nation, One Ration Card” scheme has made people’s lives easier by allowing them to avail free foodgrain anywhere in India, regardless of their home state.

He also claimed that all eligible people were receiving ration, but assured Shinde that if there were specific cases of exclusion, she could write to him and he would personally look into the matter.