Over 50% states ready to roll out and implement National Food Security Act: KV Thomas

NEW DELHI: More than 50% of the states are ready to roll out and implement the National Food Security Act ( NFSA) by the end of the year, said Food Minister KV Thomas on Tuesday.

"Not a single state is against the implementation of NFSA, including the BJP-ruled ones," said Thomas, when asked about BJP-ruled states bunking the conference of food ministers of states and Union territories in New Delhi.

Food ministers of 22 states participated in the conference out of the invited 28 states and seven Union territories to discuss issues related to the implementation of NFSA 2013. Food ministers of BJP-ruled states -- Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh -- abstained, along with Congress-ruled states of Delhi and Rajasthan. "Out of the 35 states and Union territories, 18 states will get less than their current share. We have assured them that they will be compensated," said the minister, explaining about Tamil Nadu's apprehensions of getting adequate quantity in the right price.

To deal with the issue meeting transportation cost and commission, the government would set up a committee with representatives from the states, the minister said.

"At present, either states (like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Chattisgarh) or consumers bear the transportation cost. We will look into the option of sharing the cost with the states," said the minister.

Earlier in the day, Punjab food minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon said that there were concerns of grain being siphoned off by consumers to local markets. "There are so many issues that the government has to deal with -- from storage, to inventory management, grievances and record keeping.

There is a fear of diversion of grain. We are probably among the two-three states in the country that have a strong MSP regime in place. But if such diverted grain of Rs 2 per kg reaches the market and buy that for Rs 13 per kg, it will be a national wastage," he said.

The minister assured the states that computerisation, effective door-to-door delivery system and support from Aadhaar-enabled payment to beneficiaries will plug the loopholes in distribution.