Sonia Gandhi urges government to expedite population census
What's the story
Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has urged the government to expedite the completion of the population census.
She said around 14 crore people in India are being deprived of benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) due to reliance on outdated data from the 2011 Census.
"Beneficiaries under NFSA are being identified as per 2011 Census, and not latest population numbers," she said during her maiden Zero Hour intervention in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Food security
Gandhi highlights NFSA's role in food security
Gandhi emphasized the significance of the NFSA, which was brought in by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in September 2013.
She called it a landmark initiative to ensure food and nutritional security for India's 140 crore population.
The Act covers up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population to receive highly subsidized foodgrains through Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
Census delay
Census delay deprives 14 crore Indians of NFSA benefits
Gandhi also raised concern over the delay in holding the decennial census, which was due in 2021.
"For first time in history of independent India, decennial census has been delayed by more than four years," she said.
She also alleged that budget allocations show an updated census is unlikely to be held this year, leaving around 14 crore eligible Indians without their rightful benefits under NFSA.
Urgent appeal
Gandhi urges government to prioritize census completion
Gandhi urged the government to prioritize completing the census and ensure all deserving people receive their due benefits under NFSA.
She stressed that food security isn't a privilege but a fundamental right.
The government has extended free foodgrain distribution under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for five more years from January 1, 2024.