STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 legally entitles up to 75 per cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Considering the growth of urban and rural population in Assam, the government has revised the population cap of NFSA cardholders. The revised population cap is 2,45,83,999, said sources in the State Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department.
As per the revised population cap, Bongaigaon district can now have maximum 6,12,244 beneficiaries; Cachar 14,62,557; Charaideo 3,36,463; Dhemaji 5,31,755; Dhubri 12,78,785; Dima Hasao 1,26,231; Kamrup (metro) 5,65,060; Kamrup 12,64,155; Kokrajhar 8,12,686; and Majuli can have 1,72,230 beneficiaries.
There are 1,97,67, 580 NFSA cardholders in Assam (as on the first week of April, 2023). The government intends to issue NFSA cards to more eligible beneficiaries in a phased manner to meet the revised population cap.
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