U’khand achieves 97 percent coverage under Food Security Act
Garhwal Post Bureau
New Delhi, 11 Aug: The Centre today informed parliament that Uttarakhand has achieved nearly 97 percent of its targeted coverage under the National Food Security Act. The Centre also shared that the government has reserved 42 MBBS and three BDS seats for children of defence personnel for the financial year 2025-26.
This information was shared by the Modi Government in response to certain questions raised by Rajya Sabha MP and Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt s in the House regarding welfare schemes being implemented for ex-servicemen and dependants of personnel who died in service. In response, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth informed the house that various welfare schemes are being implemented through the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) and the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) for ex-servicemen, widows, war widows and their eligible dependants.
It was also stated that the KSB provides financial assistance through the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund under various welfare schemes, including grants for poverty alleviation, education, children with disabilities, daughters’ marriage, widow remarriage, medical treatment, orphan assistance, vocational training for widows and treatment of serious and other illnesses. It also provides grants to disabled ex-servicemen for purchase of modified scooters and extends interest subsidy on housing loans.
Under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme, 5,500 scholarships are awarded every year on merit to eligible children for the full duration of their courses. The KSB also provides financial assistance to institutions engaged in the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen, including the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centres at Kirkee and Mohali, All India Gorkha Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association in Dehradun, Cheshire Homes in Lucknow, Dehradun and Delhi, and 36 War Memorial Hostels.
The minister also stated that for the financial year 2025-26, the Centre has reserved 42 MBBS and three BDS seats for children of defence personnel. The amount distributed to beneficiaries during the last three financial years was approximately Rs 364.47 crore in 2023-24, Rs 370.16 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 169.65 crore in 2025-26.
The DGR, meanwhile, implements several resettlement schemes and skill development programmes across the country for ex-servicemen, disabled servicemen, widows and their dependants. These programmes are aimed at facilitating employment opportunities based on the beneficiaries’ interests, eligibility criteria and availability of vacancies. The number of ex-servicemen who benefited from DGR schemes during 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 was 55,516, 60,816 and 69,397 respectively.
The number of officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks trained under DGR’s skill development initiatives during the same three-year period was 9,123, 11,588 and 16,901 respectively.
The Minister also said the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) is a special government initiative providing cashless and capless medical treatment to ex-servicemen and their eligible dependants. The scheme operates through 30 regional centres and 448 polyclinics spread across the country.
In another reply relating to the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya said Uttarakhand was achieving nearly 97 percent of its targeted coverage under the National Food Security Act.
According to the information provided by the Centre, as on July 16, 2026, the Uttarakhand Government has identified 60.06 lakh beneficiaries against the targeted coverage of 61.94 lakh beneficiaries fixed under the National Food Security Act. This means the state has covered around 97 percent of the beneficiaries within the prescribed limit.
The minister said the Targeted Public Distribution System under the Act is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Governments. Within the prescribed coverage limit, identification of beneficiaries and issuance of ration cards are the responsibility of the respective State Government.
