Centre urges states to weed out ineligible beneficiaries, add deserving under food security scheme by month-end

NEW DELHI: Food ministry has urged states to complete the weeding out of ineligible beneficiaries for the govt’s free foodgrain scheme by this month end. They have also been asked to add or include new eligible beneficiaries so that deserving people get govt aid.Sources said such a move will ensure lakhs of “deserving” people waiting for inclusion in the list get the benefit. For example, while around 10 lakh new beneficiaries can be added to the list in Delhi, in Maharashtra over 50,000 can be included.Some of the state food secretaries who attended a meeting convened by the food ministry said that they have been urged to expedite the process for ‘correct targeting’ of beneficiaries. “As per the norm, state govts are empowered to create their own criteria for inclusion and exclusion of beneficiaries under the food security scheme. The food ministry has just asked us to follow our own criteria and if any state wants to change the norm, they can do so,” said a state govt official who attended the recent meeting.Earlier an exercise by the food ministry had found that about 10% of the existing 80 crore beneficiaries under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna were found to appear in one or more databases such as taxpayers, car owners or company directors. This also included beneficiaries who have not lifted free foodgrain for more than six months and they have been put under the “silent ration cards” category.Sources said states including Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh had initiated steps to weed out ineligible beneficiaries even before the Centre shared the indicative list.