Centre will launch pilot project in State soon: K.V. Thomas

Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas said here on Saturday that the Centre would soon launch the pilot project of distributing 5-kg packets of rice to consumers in Kerala through the Public Distribution System as part of supplying quality rice and checking irregularities. This would replace the existing practice of transporting grains in 50-kg bags.

New Delhi : The food ministry is finalising a proposal to rechristen the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) as Indiramma Anna Yojana after the former prime minister and Congress leader.

Procurement & distribution under new Act will not be substantially higher than ongoing PDS

India made it clear at the just-concluded Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) meeting of the Committee on World Food Security in Rome that the procurement of foodgrains and distribution under the new Food Security Act will not be substantially higher than the ongoing public distribution system, indicating that it will not contribute to international price distortions.

Global Ministerial meet seeks policy convergence for better food security

Union Food Minister K.V. Thomas on Monday told the FAO Committee on World Food Security that India’s new food law would ensure equitable distribution of food grains to all sections.

India will present its case on its new food security legislation at the 40th ministerial conference of the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome next week.

Some WTO member-countries had questioned whether India’s stockholding to support 67 per cent of its population with subsidised food grains will distort international trade and impact the world stocks of grains.

The Act as been enacted in Haryana, Himachal, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Mizoram and Delhi

The Centre will review preparations for implementation of the National Food security Act with the States and UTs in a meeting here on Tuesday.
The Act which got accent of President Pranab Mukherjee on September, 12 after Parliament's nod, has been enacted in Haryana, Himachal, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Mizoram and Delhi. The historic Act will ensure heavily subsidized foodgrains to about 82 crore people as their legal right.

Congress-ruled states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Mizoram and Delhi have already started implementing the National Food Security Act

The United Progressive Alliance government will on Tuesday review with states preparations for the implementation of its flagship National Food Security Act Tuesday, a statement said Monday.

To ensure food security law is rolled out smoothly in most states before the next general elections, the Centre has called a meeting of state food ministers and secretaries later this month.

Government assures members that it won’t tinker with federal structure of governance

The Rajya Sabha on Monday approved by voice vote the National Food Security Bill after the government assured members that it had no intention of tinkering with the federal structure of governance through the legislation.

Two days before the parliamentary debate, food minister KV Thomas on Sunday ruled out a demand from various political parties to universalise the public distribution system (PDS) against 67% covera