In an apparent attempt to provide a fresh push to the Congress’s manifesto promise of Right to food, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to step in to instil a clarity on the way forward for

Advance of SW Monsoon 2012.

A nearly 45 per cent dip in rainfall this monsoon has set alarm bells ringing in Jharkhand.

KOLKATA, 4 JULY: The state government is planning to engage self-help groups and co-operatives to run ration shops, state food and supply minister Jyotipriya Mullick said today at Writers’ Building

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Tuesday approved a Food Ministry proposal to export two million tonnes of wheat from its buffer stock in an attempt to ease the storage crisis.

The Union food ministry has proposed some major changes to Sonia Gandhi’s pet project, the National Food Security Bill, the passage of which has been delayed for long due to differences between the

Thomas promises way forward for stuck legislation in a fortnight discussion on with Planning Commission, others

Union food minister K V Thomas on Monday said a ‘Plan B’ was being prepared for getting the stuck Food Security Bill cleared, but would not explain what this consisted of. The Bill, to provide subsidised grain to a majority of the population, is being examined by a standing committee of Parliament. Its passage has been delayed for a long because of several differences between ministries and policy makers.

Food Ministry wants to limit grain procurement to the needs of PDS

More than 6.6 million tonnes of wheat meant for the public distribution system, is lying in the open, running the risk of damage from rain, Minister of State for Food and Public Distribution K.V. Thomas admitted here on Thursday. Faced with a problem of plenty, the Food Ministry wants to limit grain procurement to the needs of the public distribution system. It also wants Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh to include construction of medium-capacity godowns in the national rural employment guarantee scheme to augment the grains storage capacity.

IMD says rains are not too late to raise an alarm, predicts heavy rainfall in the north-eastern and eastern parts in next two days

The food ministry on Thursday assured the nation all efforts were being made to ensure foodgrains were not damaged because of improper storage. This, despite the fact that due to poor storage facilities, 6.61 million tonnes remain vulnerable to the vagaries of the impending southwest monsoon.

“I can assure all the best efforts are being made to ensure no grain is damaged in the monsoon,” Food Minister K V Thomas told reporters. He added of the total foodgrain stock in central pool, estimated at about 82 million tones, about 87 per cent was in safe storage facilities.

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