Conduct Census Soon, 14 Crore Indians Missing Out on Food Security: Sonia Gandhi

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th Feb. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Monday urged the government to conduct the pending population census at the earliest, claiming that around 14 crore Indians are being deprived of their rightful benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) due to outdated data from the 2011 Census.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, Sonia Gandhi said that despite significant population growth over the years, the NFSA beneficiaries are still being identified based on the 2011 Census, leaving many eligible individuals without access to subsidized food grains.

“For the first time in independent India’s history, the decennial census has been delayed by more than four years. It was originally scheduled for 2021, yet there is still no clarity on when it will be conducted,” she stated.

The NFSA, introduced by the UPA government in 2013, covers 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), amounting to around 81.35 crore people as per 2011 Census data. However, Gandhi argued that due to the absence of updated population figures, millions of eligible Indians are being excluded from the scheme.

“It is imperative that the government prioritizes the completion of the census to ensure that all deserving individuals receive the benefits they are entitled to. Food security is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right,” the former Congress president asserted.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which provides free food grains under NFSA, was extended for five years from January 1, 2024. However, Gandhi suggested that the scheme’s reach remains inadequate due to outdated beneficiary data.

She also pointed out that the Union Budget 2025-26 has not allocated funds for the census, raising concerns that it may be further delayed.

The demand for a fresh census has been a longstanding issue, with opposition parties and experts arguing that government schemes should reflect current demographic realities. The government has yet to respond to Gandhi’s statement.