PM Modi Inaugurates Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign, reiterating the commitment of the government towards providing total food security for the poor. Under the program, he provided benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to almost 2 lakh deserving beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
After a colorful roadshow in Surat, Modi was honored by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister CR Patil. The campaign will look to increase NFSA and PMGKAY coverage so that no eligible person remains deprived of access to subsidized food grains.
Instituted in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, PMGKAY supplies free, good-quality food grains to economically weaker households. Gujarat has distributed more than 76 lakh NFSA cards to about 3.72 crore individuals. The state government has gone ahead with categorizing the beneficiaries under social security schemes such as the Ganga Swaroopa Aarthik Sahay Yojana for widows, the Vruddh Pension Sahay Yojana for senior citizens, and the Divyang Sahay Yojana for differently abled individuals as priority households under NFSA irrespective of income.
Under PM Modi’s scheme saturation approach and CM Bhupendra Patel’s dedication to Antyodaya Kalyan (upliftment of the underprivileged), the Surat District Food Security Saturation Campaign was launched to bring more eligible beneficiaries under the scheme. Special efforts were made to identify marginalized groups, including widowed women, elderly individuals, persons with disabilities, and daily wage earners who were previously uncovered.
The district administration carried out a meticulous survey to map current beneficiaries and find out those who remained left out. Taluka and zonal-level teams operated in mission mode in the last one year to provide holistic coverage. Due to this, almost 2 lakh more beneficiaries have been added, entitling them to regular food security benefits.
According to NFSA provisions, every cardholder is eligible for 5 kilograms of food grains per person per month, both wheat and rice. Gujarat government also offers additional nutritional assistance in the form of subsidized basic food staples. The beneficiaries are given Toor Dal at â¹50 per kg, Chana at â¹30 per kg, and Sugar at â¹15 per kg for Antyodaya Anna Yojana families, whereas Below Poverty Line have access to sugar at â¹22 per kg. Double-Fortified Salt is provided at â¹1 per kg with the aim of improving nutritional security.
Also, for festive times such as Janmashtami and Diwali, the state government gives supplementary rations. NFSA cardholders are given 1 kg of sugar per card and 1 litre of double-filtered groundnut oil at a subsidized rate of â¹100 per litre, which increases food security during the time of celebrations.
The Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign highlights the government's consistent efforts towards ending hunger and ensuring dignified living for everyone, reaffirming the vision of an inclusive, welfare-oriented India.
