Sonia Gandhi speaking in Parliament
Senior Congress leader and party parliamentary party president Sonia Gandhi has raised the demand for a census at the earliest on Monday. He said that census should be done at the earliest in the country so that all eligible persons can get guaranteed benefits under the Food Safety Act. Raising this issue during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he also said that food security is not a fundamental right of citizens but a fundamental right.
Major objectives to ensure food and nutrition security
Sonia Gandhi said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was introduced by the government, the National Food Security Act was a historic initiative. Its purpose was to ensure food and nutrition security for the 140 million population. He said that this law played an important role in protecting millions of weaker families from starvation, especially during the crisis of Kovid 19 epidemic as well as the same Act has given the basis to the Prime Minister’s Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana.
Kota for beneficiaries still based on 2011 census
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Sonia Gandhi said that under the Food Security Act, 75 percent of the villagers as well as 50 percent of urban population are entitled to receive subsidized food grains. He said that although the quota for the beneficiaries is still determined on the basis of the 2011 census, which is now more than a decade.
Census delayed over 4 years
He said, ‘For the first time in the history of independent India, there has been a delay of more than 4 years in the census. Originally it was scheduled for 2021 but still there is no clarity on when the census will be held. Sonia Gandhi said that budget allocation has revealed that the census is unlikely to be held this year.
14 crore eligible Indians are being deprived of profit
He said, ‘Thus about 14 crore eligible Indians are being denied their proper benefits under the Food Security Act. It is necessary that the government gives priority to complete the census at the earliest and ensure that all eligible persons get guaranteed benefits under the Food Safety Act. Along with this, he said that food security is not a privilege, a fundamental right. (With language input)
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