The grievance redressal mechanism proposed in the draft food security bill could be used for lodging complaints and also monitoring of schemes of similar nature both run by the Centre or the state. The draft bill proposes creation of a multi-layer grievance redressal mechanism comprising of a district grievance redressal officer, followed by the State Food Security Commission and National Food
Rural households having a member earning more than Rs 10,000 a month or anyone serving in a government or government-aided organisation or owning a landline phone will not be included in the below poverty line (BPL) category in the new poverty census being conducted by states.
However, the new census, which also includes questions about religion and castes, will compulsory include rural househo
Trial plans for biotech version of crops like rice, cotton, corn, castor, sorghum and potato could be delayed since a crucial meeting of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) was postponed by a month from scheduled date of June 8.
The meeting was expected to discuss permission of field trials and research for some biotech crops during the coming kharif season.
As food stocks reach record levels, the food ministry has decided to move grains faster from producing to non-producing states, make additional allocation under various social welfare schemes and create more storage space.
Total stocks of grains (wheat and rice) in the central pool as on May 1 was estimated to be 59.13 million tonnes, of which wheat comprised 31.37 million tonnes and rice 27.76
