Food Security scheme to be inaugurated on Aug 20

Hyderabad, July 25 : As announced by Government of India, National Food Security Ordinance scheme will be formally launched in Andhra Pradesh on August 20.

Nearly eight crore people (7.5 crore at present and 14 lakh new white cards to be distributed during Rachabanda in August) will draw rations as per the Food Security Ordinance from 1st September. With the implementation of the Ordinance, each person in the White Card holding family will be entitled to 5 kgs of rice irrespective of the number of persons in the family. In effect they will get an increased ration of 5 kgs instead of 4 kgs per person per month at present.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy positively responded to the proposal for increasing the commission of ration shop dealers in the State, a long pending demand of the PDS distributors. He held a detailed review meeting on the implementation of the Food Security Ordinance and distribution of “Amma Hastham” with Minister and officials at Secretariat.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to work out procurement of additional quantity of rice required for distribution under the Food Security Ordinance within the State so that our farmers will get remunerative price in coordination with the Food Corporation of India. The State will have to go in for purchase of 94,000 MT to cover the present 7.5 crs population in addition to the allotment of 3.06 lakh MT from Government of India. For the 50 lakh additional persons (for the 14 lakh new cards to be distributed during the next Rachabanda) open market purchases will be 25,000 MT per month additionally. Thus the total open market purchase will be 94,000 MT for the existing uncovered persons under the Food Security Ordinance and 25,000 MT for new persons.

Officials said rice has to be distributed at 4 lakh MT per month against the present 3.25 lakh MT. Awareness campaign will be taken up to enlighten card holders about the increased allotment of 5 kg per person against 4 kg at present.

The Chief Minister will take up with the Government of India to concur with State’s Action Plan to implement NFSO from August, 2013 and to allot the entitled quantity of 3.06 lakh MT from August, 2013 for implementing the ordinance. Beneficiaries list will be hosted on the website and it requires some time and the Government of India will be informed accordingly. Food Advisory Committees are already functioning in the State, District, Division, Mandal, Corporation and Fair Price shop level in rural and urban areas and it will be ensured that they hold meetings as per the periodicity. Eldest Women in the family will be declared as head of the family in the ration card to met the requirement under the National Food Security Ordinance and a State Commission will be appointed keeping in view the guidelines.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies D. Sreedhar Babu, Chief Secretary Dr.P.K.Mohanty, Commissioner (Civil Supplies) Sunil Sharma, Principal Secretary (Finance) V. Bhasker, MD Civil Supplies Corporation Anil Kumar and Food Corporation officials attended the meeting.

Officials informed that the price of all Amma Hastham items put together (per packet) at today’s market price is Rs.306 and the consumer will get benefit of Rs.121 per packet since the family gets it at Rs.185.

The Chief Minister also directed that Public Distribution System should be modernised and automated to ensure transparency with e-pass machines etc in 6 districts of East Godavari, Chittoor, Anantapur, Karimnagar, R R District and Hyderabad as pilot projects. This should be completed by December end and would be extended to the whole of the State. This would ensure correct weighment and distribution to the eligible card holders and prevent misuse and duplication. He also directed the officials to go in for sample check of every batch of palm oil packing and send it to the labs to ensure its quality and stringent action should be taken if any adulteration is found. He also wanted the officials to ensure quality of all ‘Amma Hastham’ items. INN