States gets another six months for implementation of national food security act

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) is deemed to have come into force on 05.07.2013. It inter alia provides for a period not exceeding 365 days to the States/Union Territories (UTs) for identification of eligible households for receiving foodgrains at subsidized prices under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Allocation of foodgrains to 11 States/Union Territories (UTs) namely, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan has started under the Act based on the preparedness and identification of beneficiaries for coverage under the Act, reported by them. This information was given by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. 

 

The Minister said that remaining 25 States/UTs have not completed the preparatory measures required for implementation of the Act. Implementation of the Act is reviewed on a regular basis and necessary advisories are issued to States/UTs, wherever required. As Period of 365 days for identification of eligible households got over on 04.07.2014, an additional three months time was given to these States/UTs to complete the identification exercise and start implementation of the Act, which has been further extended by another six months, i.e. till 04.04.2015. 

 

He said that allocation of foodgrains under existing TPDS is being continued in States/UTs where implementation of NFSA is yet to start. Expenditure on subsidy involved in allocation of foodgrains under NFSA as well as existing TPDS is met out of budgetary allocation for food subsidy, which was fully utilized during 2013-14. During 2014-15, the allocation under food subsidy is Rs. 1,10,500 crore against which Rs. 88,509 crore has been released so far.