Rajasthan, HP and Mizoram implement Food security law

New Delhi: The Centre today said three more states – Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram– have started implementing the food law that aims to provide legal right to subsidised foodgrains to 67 percent of population.

The Delhi government was the first to announce the implementation of the landmark law last month. Haryana and Uttarakhand followed the suit.

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“The states have been provided one year for implementation of the historic Act. But Haryana, Himachal

Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Mizoram and Delhi have already started its implementation,” an official statement said.

A meeting of state food ministers has been convened on October 1 to address their concerns and to fast track implementation of the law in most states before the next general elections.

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This is the first meeting called by the Union food ministry after the President gave assent to the food law, which aims to provide highly subsidised foodgrains to the country s two-third population as a right.

State food secretaries have also been called on September 30 to discuss various issues related to the law and set the agenda for the food ministers’ conference next day, the statement said.

The meeting, to be inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and presided by Food Minister K V Thomas, will discuss about formula to identify beneficiaries by states, issuing of fresh ration cards, doorstep delivery of grains and women empowerment under the law among others.

Senior officials of Prime Minister’s Office, Agriculture and Finance Ministries and Planning Commission will also be present in the conference, the statement added.

Under the food law, the government aims to provide uniform entitlement of five kilo per person per month through ration shops at fixed rate of Rs 3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains, respectively.

PTI