Centre to discuss food law implementation with states and UTs

NEW DELHI: The government today said it is organising a meeting of the state food ministers to review preparations for implementation of the Food security law.

The meeting is scheduled to be held on October 1 here, and will be inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and presided over by Food Minister K V Thomas, according to an official statement.

The Act which got assent of the President on September 12, has been enacted in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Mizoram and Delhi, the statement added.

It will be attended by Food Ministers from States and UTs besides senior officials of PMO, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Planning Commission.

"Meeting will discuss criteria to be adopted for identification of beneficiaries by the States, issue of fresh ration cards, women empowerment under the Act, doorstep delivery of foodgrains," it added.

Besides this the meeting will also discuss, grievance redressal machinery at district and state levels, creation of additional storage capacity, opening of new fair price shops and computerisation of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

The food security law will cover about 75 per cent and 50 per cent of rural and urban population respectively under TPDS, with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month at the rate of Rs 3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains.