Food Security to be enforced in State soon: AICC Spokesperson
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 18 2013: National Spokesperson of All India Congress Committee (AICC), Northeast in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has announced that the National Food Security Bill, 2013 would be enforced soon to benefit the people of Manipur as well as other north-eastern states.

The AICC representative conducted a closed-door workshop of top functionaries of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) including District Presidents at Congress Bhavan here today.

Talking to media persons after the workshop, Randeep said that the passage of Food Security Bill in the Parliament as an ordinance is a remarkable achievement of the legislators towards benefitting the masses, especially poor people, women and children in the country.

He further announced that the Food Security Bill would benefit 75 percent of rural populace and 50 percent of urban population with overall 69 percent of the total population of India.

Under the provisions of this Bill, a person each from the beneficiary household would get five kilograms of rice or wheat per month at the rate of Rs.3 per kg, while millet and coarse grains would be made available at Re.

1 per kg, the AICC Spokesperson noted.

The beneficiary households of Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) would be given 35 kg of rice each, while lactating mothers and pregnant women would be given free cooked food for six months through Anganwadi Centres or Rs.6000 instead of the cooked food, Randeep said.

The AICC representative further stated that children from six months up to six years would be provided cooked food at Anganwadi Centres, while children in the age group of 6 to 14 years would be given food at Government Schools.

Equivalent food allowance would be given in case of any inconvenience in the supply of food grains, he added.

According to the Census of 2011, the 82-crore Indian population would be benefitted by the Food Security Bill.

The total supply of food grains would be 72.6 million tonnes at a monthly cost of Rs.1,24,747 crores, Randeep revealed.

It may be noted that the Food Security Bill has to be launched as a scheme within 180 days as per a notification issued on July 5.The implementation of this scheme will be monitored by District Grievance Redressal Officer and State Food Commission.

The defaulters of this scheme can also be punished through civil courts.

About 23,70,000 people out of the total 27,21,000 population of Manipur are expected to be benefitted by the Food Security Bill.

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