NEW DELHI: Amid the govt’s push to weed out ineligible beneficiaries under free ration scheme PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), the food ministry will review the progress of states on Monday at a meeting of state food secretaries, where the initial paddy procurement target will also be finalised.Sources said states such as Odisha and Rajasthan have made good progress as they took up the initiative even before the Centre wrote to states for the intensive drive. TOI has learnt that while Rajasthan has removed around 28 lakh ineligible beneficiaries by launching a “voluntary give up” initiative, Odisha has weeded out around seven lakh such beneficiaries who have passed away or had higher income.In July, the food ministry had written to all states to “re-verify” the 80 crore-odd beneficiaries who receive 5 kg each of rice or wheat monthly and add new beneficiaries under PMGKAY. Officials said since the original beneficiary lists were prepared by states more than a decade back, there is a need to reverify the eligibility of people.The ministry had carried out a ‘comprehensive exercise’ to strengthen rightful targeting of the free foodgrain distribution by matching the database of ration card management system (RCMS) with databases of Central Board of Direct Taxes, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, ministry of corporate affairs, ministry of road transport and highways and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Around 10% of the existing 80 crore beneficiaries under PMGKAY, after inter-ministerial data convergence, “who appear in one or more of the databases and may not qualify as per eligibility norms prescribed by the respective states”.The Centre has maintained that states can add new beneficiaries after weeding out ineligible ones. “There will be no reduction in the overall number. The aim is to ensure deserving people get the govt benefit,” said a source.
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