Odisha tops in food security, PDS; UP, AP follow

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce and Industry, released the results of first edition of State Ranking Index for NFSA today.

Odisha has ranked number one, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Among the Special Category states/Union Territories, Tripura stood first, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Among the three UTs where Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) – Cash is operational, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu is at the top.

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was enacted on this day eight years ago (5 July 2013).

The government said in a statement that the State Ranking Index for NFSA aims to document the status and progress of implementation of NFSA and various reforms across the country after consultation with states. However, it did not specify the methodology or period of evaluation.

The present Index is largely focused on NFSA Distribution and will include procurement, PMGKAY Distribution in future. The Index for ranking the states and UTs is built on three key pillars which covers the end-to-end implementation of NFSA through TPDS. These pillars are: (1) NFSA— coverage, targeting and provisions of the Act, (2) Delivery platform, and (3) Nutrition initiatives, it said.

Goyal highlighted that India is now 100% connected under One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC). He said states/UTs should leverage the Public Distribution System (PDS) to issue Ayushman Bharat cards to provide health security to people like UP is doing. He said that immunization of migrant kids can also be linked with the system to ensure medical facility to them.

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MDDTimes Staff Writer

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