Grain ATMs will be introduced in Jaipur, Bharatpur, and Bikaner to provide ration to beneficiaries through their ration cards, eliminating the need to visit fair price shops, as stated by Rajasthan Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara. The state’s ‘Give Up’ campaign, where over 54 lakh affluent individuals voluntarily surrendered their entitlements, has paved the way for nearly 73 lakh eligible beneficiaries to benefit from improved food security measures.
During a press conference at the Secretariat, the minister highlighted the success of the campaign, attributing it to the public’s spirit of sacrifice and social responsibility under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s leadership. Since its launch on November 1, 2024, more than 54.36 lakh affluent individuals have willingly given up their food security benefits, resulting in an extension of coverage to around 73 lakh eligible beneficiaries across Rajasthan.
Godara emphasized that the campaign will end on February 28, following which necessary actions will be taken against ineligible beneficiaries who do not opt out voluntarily. The initiative, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring full coverage under the food security scheme, aims to include all eligible individuals. The state government, under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s guidance, reinitiated the Food Security Portal on January 26 last year to facilitate the inclusion of deserving beneficiaries.
Rajasthan currently has 4.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), with a ceiling of 4.46 crore beneficiaries. Due to saturation, new beneficiaries could not be added previously. However, the Give Up campaign and the failure of around 27 lakh NFSA beneficiaries to complete e-KYC have opened up vacancies for approximately 81 lakh eligible individuals, constituting 18.6% of the existing NFSA beneficiaries.
Union Home Minister Shah commended the campaign during the 32nd Northern Zonal Council meeting, acknowledging its impact. Notably, Jaipur district saw the highest number of new inclusions, with 3.17 lakh eligible beneficiaries added to the food security list, followed by Barmer and Sikar with 3.07 lakh and 3.04 lakh beneficiaries, respectively. The state currently has 4.35 crore beneficiaries, with about 11 lakh vacancies under the NFSA. Rajasthan stands out as the only state with such availability, with ongoing acceptance of applications and minimal pending cases.
To ensure transparency, departmental officers conduct eight days of field surveys every month, supported by a three-tier verification system, with District Collectors authorized to approve eligible cases.
