Union Minister Piyush Goyal releases first edition of 'State Ranking Index for National Food Security Act'

Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal said that the system of digitized, Aadhaar linked Public Distribution will be used to issue Ayushman Bharat Card. He said, health and food are naturally connected and nutritional security will get a fillip with health security.

The Minister yesterday released the first edition of ‘State Ranking Index for National Food Security Act. While addressing the National Conference on Food and Nutrition Security in New Delhi, he said, India is now 100 percent connected under One Nation One Ration Card. He said, 45 crore transactions have already happened under this unique initiative which provided the beneficiaries, freedom to collect ration from any State and Union Territory in the country. Terming One Nation One Ration Card a revolutionary step, he said, this initiative supported migrants during Covid pandemic.

About the State Ranking Index, Mr. Goyal said, the



state rankings for food distribution will encourage more competition to improve systems. He said, this is the first time that sates have been ranked for food distribution under National Food Security Act. In the ranking, Odisha is placed at top rank followed by Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Goyal urged the states to increase the sowing of rice and wheat which will help in increasing exports.

Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh have emerged as top three states in the 1st State Ranking Index for National Food Security Act, NFSA. This ranking Index attempts to document the status and progress of implementation of NFSA and various reform initiatives across the country. Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal released the 1st edition of State Ranking Index for NFSA in New Delhi yesterday. Among the Special Category Tripura stood first in the ranking followed by Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.