Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the implementation of its own food security scheme, the Odisha government has begun the process to include those left out of the list of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Talking to mediapersons here on Monday, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Surya Narayan Patro said that the identification of the left-out beneficiaries is underway and the department will receive applications in this regard till September 4.
“Efforts are on to identify about 25 lakh beneficiaries before the launch of the scheme in the state on October 2,” he added.
The minister further said that if the number of the application exceeds 25 lakh, arrangements would be made for their inclusion in the state’s food security scheme in the later stage.
Labourers, physically-challenged persons, patients, the poor and the elderly can apply for it in their respective block, panchayat, municipality and NAC offices, he added.