State takes lead in using biometric data from RSBY cards, first phase likely in May.

New Delhi In a bid to reduce pilferage of grain, food ministry and UN body World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for scaling up the modernisation of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

WFP, which is currently supporting a pilot project in Orissa’s Rayagada districts, where biometrics based technology is used to eliminate ‘bogus’ BPL card holders, would support other states such as Bihar, Jharkhand and North-eastern states in taking up modernisation of TPDS.

In a major step forward to augment capacity for storing foodgrains for the public distribution system, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has notified 10 sites in as many States for construction o

The government has started work on the rules and bylaws of the proposed Food Security Act, even as the Bill is being debated by a standing committee of Parliament.

The food ministry has appointed Hyderabad-based Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) as consultant for the finer points. ASCI will work with ministry officials and analyse the delivery mechanism of the department of food and public distribution, including Food Corporation of India and state governments.

Move unlikely soon, as proposed Food Security Bill promises grain at rates lower than current ones at ration shops

The Centre is considering raising the prices of wheat and rice distributed through ration shops to bring down its food subsidy bill. Before 2010, proposals to increase the price of grains sold through ration shops for above poverty line (APL) families were placed before the cabinet once almost every six months, without any success. The price has not been changed since 2002.

New Delhi The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has hailed India’s efforts in achieving an all-time high grain production of 250.42 million tonne in the year through June, and pledged its support to root out hunger in the country.

In a letter to agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, FAO director-general Jose Graziano da Silva has expressed the organisation’s willingness to work with the ministry to “strengthen field efficiency and secure sustainability of smallholder farmers’ benefits”.

Implementation of the National Food Security Bill will entail a subsidy of a whopping Rs 1.12 lakh crore, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister KV Thomas informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Food subsidy as per 1993-94 poverty line and 2000 population census is Rs 88,976 crore and as per the 2011 census it would be Rs 197,096 crore, he said during Question Hour.

New Delhi Food minister K V Thomas on Thursday ruled out clearance of food security Bill in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament, saying consultations are still on to sort out problems raised by states and that it can be taken up only in the next Monsoon session.

“How can it come in the Budget session...Parliamentary Standing Committee is yet to submit its report,” Thomas said on the sidelines of a function of food and consumer affairs ministry here.

‘Economic Survey of Maharashtra’ is prepared by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Planning Department every year for presentation in the Budget Session of the State Legislature. The present publication for the year 2011-12

Andhra Pradesh Government prepares the socio-economic survey report every year and places it before both the Houses of the state legislature along with budget documents on the day of budget presentation.

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