New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Monday urged the government of India to complete the population census without further delay, highlighting that nearly 14 crore people are being denied benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Speaking during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Gandhi pointed out that NFSA beneficiaries are still being identified based on the 2011 Census, rather than updated population data. She described the NFSA, introduced by the UPA government in September 2013, as a landmark initiative aimed at ensuring food and nutritional security for India’s 140 crore population.
Gandhi emphasised the crucial role of the law in protecting vulnerable households, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis. However, she noted that the quota for beneficiaries remains tied to outdated census figures from 2011, despite a significant population increase over the years.
The NFSA covers up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, amounting to 81.35 crore people as per the 2011 Census. Under the law, the government currently provides 5 kg of free foodgrains per person per month.
Raising concerns over the delayed census, Gandhi pointed out that this is the first time in independent India’s history that the decennial census has been postponed by over four years. Originally scheduled for 2021, its timeline remains uncertain, she said, adding that budget allocations suggest it is unlikely to be conducted this year.
As a result, around 14 crore eligible citizens are missing out on food security benefits, she claimed. Calling for urgent action, she stressed that food security is not a privilege but a fundamental right.
