Minister promises Food Security Act in 100 days

Thiruvananthapuram, June 14 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas on Sunday said that a Food Security Act would be in place within the next 100 days.

Addressing a press conference here, Thomas said the UPA Government's flagship scheme of providing 25 kilograms of rice and wheat at Rs. 3 per kilogram to families in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category would be implemented within the next 100 days.

He said that the Food Security Act would ensure the mandatory implementation of the scheme.

He said the new scheme was more challenging than the National Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Thomas said the government would have to ensure the supply of food grains through an effective public distribution system.

The Act would also stipulate measures to increase production to ensure hassle free supply of food grains under the scheme, he said.

The guidelines to identify families under BPL would be changed as government was in the process of 'giving a definition' to this category, he said.

On the introduction of BT-seeds in the country, he said Centre was studying the matter.

The government was also considering lifting the ban on export of rice, he said. (ANI)