Jaipur, April 22. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot said that the number of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is based on the 2011 census, which is insufficient in the current scenario. The Central Government must make new provisions to include all poor under NFSA. He said the State Government had in the past requested the Prime Minister and Union Minister multiple times in this regard and the State Government will once again request the Centre. Besides, he said the Government is making all possible efforts to ensure that none of the 33 lakh destitute, helpless, street vendors and other eligible people identified during the corona pandemic is deprived of food security. Also, 5,000 new ration shops will be opened soon as per the budget announcement to increase the scope of food security and to make the pledge 'No Óne Sleeps Hungry' a ground reality.

Shri Gehlot was addressing a meeting organised with regard to new registration in NFSA at his official residence on Friday. He directed the officials to provide food security to all the eligible citizens in the State under NFSA.

He said that the State Government is committed to the welfare of the poor, needy and low-income groups. All, those eligible people will be linked to this scheme who are still deprived of the NFSA benefit with the government's thinking 'No One Sleeps Hungry'. He directed the officials to expedite the process of adding 10 lakh new families under the budget announcement by listing the applications received to add names in NFSA.

The State Government is also working towards providing 'Doorstep Delivery' of ration to disabled, elderly people etc. In this direction, over 8 lakh families have been identified. He directed the officers to take necessary steps for its execution.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shri Pratap Singh Khacharyiawas said that the official machinery must carry every scheme of the Government to the person sitting at the tail end. Each eligible citizen in the State should be provided food security under the Food Security Act.

Chief Secretary Smt Usha Sharma, Principal Secretary, Finance, Shri Akhil Arora, Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Shri Ashutosh AT Pednekar and other senior officers were present in the meeting.