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54 Lakh Give Up Ration in Rajasthan, 73 Lakh New Beneficiaries Added

Rajasthan's 'Give Up' campaign has seen over 54 lakh affluent individuals voluntarily surrender their food security entitlements. This has created vacancies allowing nearly 73 lakh newly eligible beneficiaries to be included under the National Food Security Act. The campaign, guided by the vision of saturation so no eligible person is left out, will conclude on February 28. The state is also introducing Grain ATMs in Jaipur, Bharatpur, and Bikaner to automate ration distribution.

Key Points: Rajasthan's Give Up Campaign: 54L Surrender Ration, 73L Added

  • 54.36 lakh surrender benefits
  • 73 lakh new beneficiaries included
  • Grain ATMs in 3 districts
  • Campaign ends Feb 28
3 min read

Rajasthan: Around 54 lakh beneficiaries surrender food security benefits; Grain ATMs to come up in 3 dists

Over 54 lakh affluent individuals in Rajasthan voluntarily surrendered food security benefits, enabling coverage for 73 lakh new eligible beneficiaries under a state campaign.

"a reflection of the public's spirit of sacrifice and social responsibility - Sumit Godara"

Jaipur, Jan 21

Grain ATMs will be set up in Jaipur, Bharatpur and Bikaner, allowing beneficiaries to automatically receive their ration using ration cards, eliminating the need to visit fair price shops, Rajasthan Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara said on Wednesday.

He further said that Rajasthan's 'Give Up' campaign has emerged as a landmark initiative in strengthening food security, with more than 54 lakh affluent individuals voluntarily giving up their entitlements, paving the way for the inclusion of nearly 73 lakh eligible beneficiaries.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, the minister described the campaign as a reflection of the public's spirit of sacrifice and social responsibility under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

Godara said that since its launch on November 1, 2024, more than 54.36 lakh affluent and ineligible individuals have voluntarily surrendered their food security benefits. As a result, food security coverage has been extended to around 73 lakh eligible beneficiaries across the state.

He said the campaign will conclude on February 28, after which action will be taken as per rules against ineligible beneficiaries who fail to opt out voluntarily.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ensuring saturation under the food security scheme, so that no eligible person is left out, has guided the campaign. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the state government relaunched the Food Security Portal on January 26 last year, facilitating large-scale inclusion of eligible beneficiaries.

Godara explained that Rajasthan has a ceiling of 4.46 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Due to saturation, there was no scope earlier to include new beneficiaries. However, voluntary relinquishment under the Give Up campaign and the failure of nearly 27 lakh NFSA beneficiaries to complete e-KYC created vacancies for about 81 lakh eligible persons, accounting for 18.6 per cent of the current NFSA beneficiaries.

He added that the campaign was appreciated by Union Home Minister Shah during the recently held 32nd Northern Zonal Council meeting.

Jaipur district recorded the highest number of new inclusions, with 3.17 lakh eligible beneficiaries added to the food security list. Barmer and Sikar followed with 3.07 lakh and 3.04 lakh beneficiaries, respectively, he added.

The minister said the state currently has 4.35 crore beneficiaries, leaving around 11 lakh vacancies under the NFSA. Applications are being accepted continuously, with only 90,000 applications currently pending, making Rajasthan the only state with such availability.

To ensure transparency, departmental officers conduct eight days of field surveys every month, supported by a three-tier verification system. District Collectors have been empowered to approve eligible cases.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While the intent is good, the implementation is key. 54 lakh people giving up benefits sounds impressive, but we need audits to ensure the new 73 lakh beneficiaries are truly the most deserving. The three-tier verification is a step in the right direction. Let's hope it works on the ground.
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Aman W
Grain ATMs in Jaipur, Bharatpur and Bikaner is a tech-savvy move! No more depending on shopkeepers opening on time. This will reduce corruption and leakage in PDS. But what about remote villages in Barmer or Udaipur? They need this facility more than cities.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked in food security, this is a significant data point. Voluntary surrender on this scale is rare. It reflects a cultural shift. The focus should now be on ensuring the nutritional quality of the grain distributed through these new systems.
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Vikram M
Good step, but the article mentions action after Feb 28 against those who don't opt out. Hope it's done fairly. Sometimes middle-class families hit a rough patch and need that safety net. The system should have a compassionate review process, not just punitive action.
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Nisha Z
My mother in Sikar just got her card after years of waiting! She's so relieved. This campaign actually reached people. The numbers for Sikar (3.04 lakh new beneficiaries) show it's working. More power to those who gave up their entitlements for others. 🇮🇳

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