Centre gives states six more months to implement National Food Security Act

NEW DELHI: The Centre has decided to give states an additional six months to implement the National Food Security Act that gives two-thirds of the country’s population the right to highly subsidised food grains.

This is the second extension given by the Narendra Modi government to the states. A three-month extension given earlier has expired on October 4.

More than 6.1 crore tonnes of rice, wheat and coarse cereals are expected to be distributed to 81 crore people, covering 75% rural and 50% urban population, under the programme.

So far, eleven states — Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Chandigarh —have implemented the law, food minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Thursday.

States have to prepare the list of beneficiaries, issue cards to them and set up infrastructure to carry out the programme, the minister said. “This is taking time.” According to government officials, Uttarakhand, Kerala and Gujarat have given commitment to implement the law at the earliest.

States have been asked to make public distribution systems totally transparent through end-to-end computerisation so as to ensure that the benefits of the National Food Security Act reach deserving people. They have also been advised to list beneficiaries on Web portals and display movement of ration and related information. Communication modes like SMS would also be explored to inform the beneficiaries about allocation.

According to Paswan, three other welfare programme - above poverty line, below poverty line and Antyodaya Anna Yojana – are currently running apart from the Act. Households having BPL ration cards are issued 35 kg of rice and wheat at Rs 5.75 and Rs 4.15 a kg, respectively, while those under Antyodaya Anna Yojna pay Rs 2 a kg for wheat and Rs 3 for rice. APL card holders get rice at Rs 8 a kg and wheat for Rs 6.