Sonia Gandhi Urges Immediate Census to Aid 14 Crore in Food Subsidy Scheme
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Sonia Gandhi, in a recent Rajya Sabha address, demanded the urgent completion of Census to ensure that 14 crore people can access government food subsidy schemes, which have been affected by the four-year delay.
Key Takeaways
- Census delay affects food security benefits.
- 14 crore people lack access to subsidized food.
- 2011 Census data is outdated for beneficiary allocation.
- NFSA crucial for food security during crises.
- Government must prioritize the Census completion.
New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) - Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson and Rajya Sabha MP, has called for the urgent execution of the Census, arguing that its four-year postponement has deprived millions of social benefits, including food security.
In her first speech in Rajya Sabha since her swearing-in last April, the former Congress President emphasized that 14 crore individuals are missing out on their rightful access to subsidized food grains due to the Census delay.
She stated, “The allocation for beneficiaries is still based on the 2011 Census, which is now over a decade old.”
Sonia Gandhi insisted that the Census was scheduled for 2021. “This is the first time in the history of Independent India that the Census has been postponed beyond four years. Initially set for 2021, there remains no clear timeline for its execution. The Budget allocations indicate that the updated census may not occur this year either,” she noted.
Highlighting the accomplishments of the prior Congress-led UPA government, she referred to the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 as a pivotal initiative designed to guarantee food and nutritional security for the 140 crore populace.
“This Act laid the groundwork for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” she remarked, acknowledging the NFSA's vital role in safeguarding countless households from hunger, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By recalling the significant components of the UPA-era NFSA, she pointed out that under this law, 75 percent of the rural population and 50 percent of the urban population are eligible to receive subsidized food grains.
Sonia Gandhi concluded, “It is crucial for the government to prioritize the prompt completion of the Census and ensure that all deserving individuals access the benefits guaranteed to them under the NFSA. Food security is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right.”
