PATNA: Lashing out at the Bihar government for tardy implementation of the Food Security Act in the state, the BJP today claimed about 15 per cent beneficiaries have not been issued fresh ration cards to avail subsidised foodgrain.
A vast number of the eligible beneficiaries were not getting their food quota for months due to poor delivery mechanism, the party alleged.
"Out of the 8.71 crore beneficiaries in Bihar under the Food Security Act, 1.11 crore people have not been issued fresh ration cards for availing their food quota at subsidised rate of Rs 2 per kg wheat and Rs 3 per kg rice," Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Nandkishore Yadav said.
Issuance of ration cards to all beneficiaries (85 per cent in rural areas and 74 per cent in urban area) have not been completed even after ten months of rolling out of the Food Act in Bihar, nor have the beneficiaries been provided food quota due to dysfunctional delivery mechanism, he said.
Even disposal of objections (one crore in all) ahead of finalization of the list of beneficiaries have not been completed by the department, Yadav said.
The Leader of Opposition criticised the state government for its failure to transport foodgrain to PDS outlets for disbursement among beneficiaries.
The state government has claimed to have lifted 95 per cent of its foodgrain quota from the Centre, the senior BJP leader said alleging that the grains have not been distributed to the people and have made it to the black market.