BJP MPs Accuse Odisha Govt Of Bungling In Central Foodgrain Scheme

Bhubaneswar: BJP MPs from Odisha have accused the state government of “massive mismanagement” in distribution of centrally-allocated foodgrain and pulses.

In a letter to Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, the MPs alleged that there was a huge gap in the beneficiaries for whom the foodgrain and pulses were sanctioned under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) and those who have actually received the benefits, news agency ANI reported.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched PMGKY in March under which foodgrain were sanctioned for National Food Security Mission (NFSM) beneficiaries for distribution. In Odisha, this translated into 5 kg of rice per beneficiary and 1 kg of pulses per household each month from April 2020 for the 3,24 crore registered NFSM beneficiaries to ensure that no one goes hungry,” the MPs wrote.

“We are distraught to note gross discrepancies in the disbursement of this Central scheme due to gaping missteps by the state government. Many eligible and needy beneficiaries of Odisha are being left out — especially migrant workers who had suffered a long and arduous journey from faraway states to Odisha,” they added.