Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Expands Food Security to Over 70% of Population
Guwahati (Assam) [India], September 29: The Assam government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has launched a new initiative to include previously excluded individuals under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This drive aims to secure nutritional coverage for over 70% of Assam’s population.
Chief Minister Sarma announced that the entire process of inducting new beneficiaries will be completed by November. He shared this information on the social media platform X, stating, “This initiative takes into account individuals previously excluded for not having Aadhaar, related to the issue of NRC biometric lock. All newly enlisted beneficiaries would be added to the Priority Household (PHH) category, ensuring that the most vulnerable receive essential support.”
A key feature of this initiative is the introduction of ‘Anna Sewa Din,’ a dedicated period from the 1st to the 10th of every month for the distribution of food grains. This approach ensures timely disbursement, no pilferage, accurate record-keeping, and doorstep delivery for divyangjans (persons with disabilities).
With the addition of over 17 lakh new beneficiaries, alongside nearly 2 lakh beneficiaries previously deleted from the NRC and those under the state pool, Assam aims to ensure that over 2.5 crore people are entitled to free food grains by 2025. This initiative embodies the Antyodaya approach, focusing on serving the poor and marginalized sections of society.
In January 2024, the Assam government successfully enrolled over 42 lakh new beneficiaries, bringing the total number of eligible individuals to 2.31 crore under the NFSA. Notably, 98% of these beneficiaries receive their free food grains every month, highlighting the efficiency and commitment of the state’s food distribution system.
Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that the Government of Assam is committed to ensuring that every citizen has access to nutritious food, paving the way for a healthier and more equitable future for all.
Doubts Revealed
Assam -: Assam is a state in the northeastern part of India. It is known for its tea plantations, wildlife, and the Brahmaputra River.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state, similar to a principal in a school but for the whole state.
Himanta Biswa Sarma -: Himanta Biswa Sarma is the current Chief Minister of Assam. He is like the main leader who makes important decisions for the state.
Food Security -: Food security means making sure everyone has enough food to eat. It is like ensuring no one goes hungry.
National Food Security Act (NFSA) -: The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is a law in India that aims to provide food at affordable prices to people who need it. It is like a big plan to make sure everyone gets enough food.
Beneficiaries -: Beneficiaries are people who receive help or benefits from a program. In this case, they are the people who will get free food grains.
Lakh -: Lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to 100,000. So, 17 lakh means 1,700,000 people.
Crore -: Crore is another unit in the Indian numbering system equal to 10 million. So, 2.5 crore means 25 million people.
Anna Sewa Din -: Anna Sewa Din is a special day for distributing food efficiently. ‘Anna’ means food, ‘Sewa’ means service, and ‘Din’ means day in Hindi.
Enrolment -: Enrolment is the process of signing up or registering for something. Here, it means people signing up to get free food grains.
