Bhubaneswar, July 8: Former Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik today criticised chief minister Naveen Patnaik for not welcoming the food security ordinance.

“The chief minister has admitted that Odisha is one of the most backward states and that he wants to free the state from hunger and malnutrition. But, it is a paradox and a case of narrow politics that he is yet to welcome the food security ordinance,” said Patnaik.

Addressing a press conference here, Patnaik said: “If Naveen babu actually wants to work for a hunger-free Odisha, he should openly welcome the ordinance and support the bill in Parliament.”

The senior Congress leader added that the chief minister should build a mechanism to implement the food security ordinance if it becomes a law and there should be no politics over hunger.

“It is unfortunate that though the Centre is providing 35kg rice to each BPL family, the state is providing only 25kg to the people because they have failed to revise the BPL list,” he said.

Patnaik said special attention had been given to lactating mothers and children in the ordinance. “The benefits will be delivered through the existing anganwadi centres in rural areas. But in the urban areas, the state has to make arrangements for providing cooked food to lactating mothers, children and the destitute.” Praising the ordinance, the Congress leader said it was significant that the distribution of food grains would be required to be computerised because this would prevent corruption and ensure timely and efficient distribution.