‘25 states to adopt Food Security Act by June’

Clearing the air on the implementation of Food Security Act by states, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan said on Friday that almost all the states would adopt the food act in a couple of months. West Bengal has started implementing the act.

“About 25 state governments have agreed in principle to adopt the act by June. Currently, some 11 states had adopted the Food Security Act and by June, 90 per cent of the states will adopt it,” Paswan told reporters in Kolkata.

West Bengal has begun implementing the Act by introducing it in South Dinajpur district and it will shortly be extended to Coochbehar and North Dinajpur district, West Bengal Food Minister Jyotipriya Mullick said, adding, “We will cover the entire state by October 31.” Mullick said the state will be able to cover only 6.1 crore of its 9.1 crore population under the subsidised food programme. “We had asked for universal food security which is not offered. The Centre is not providing enough resources to create more godowns required,” he said. Food Security Act ensures food to poor at very low price. Paswan claimed that under the scheme, the food grains are available at a price lower than the current prices offered to BPL families. He said that the state government has given approval for 500 new bikes for the police department so as enable the police to make regular effective patrolling to prevent occurrence of crime.