Govt to implement National Food Security Act from September

AGARTALA: After a long wait, finally the Tripura government has decided to implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from September 1. The entire process of the Act will be continued till 2021.

"The government has decided to implement the NFSA from the next month. If the Centre allows us to do so, we are ready to implement it from September 1," Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha on Thursday told the media after a cabinet meeting held at the state's Civil Secretariat.

There are a total of 6 lakh and 15 thousand Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders would be covered by the Food Security scheme. Apart from that, a total of and 3 lakh and 54 thousand Above Poverty Line (APL) card holders though not under the Act, would be still getting 15 kilogram of rice per family at the cost of Rs. 13 by the state government, informed the minister.

"The APL families who have ration cards would not be deprived. The government has decided to provide 15 kilogram of rice to each family. For this, the government would have to spend additional Rs.1 6 crore and 73 lakh," Saha said.

A total of 1 lakh and 13 thousand poor people under the Antyodaya AnnaYojana (AAY) scheme would be getting as usual 35 kilograms of rice at the cost of Rs. 2.

The NFSA came into effect on July 5, 2013. Under the Act, each person would get 5 kilograms of food grains per month at Rs. 3 per kilograms for rice, Rs. 2 for per kg wheat and Re 1 for coarse cereals (per kg) through the governments of the respective states.

At least 75 percent rural people and 50 percent urban people have been entitled o enjoy the facilities of the Act. The UPA government had passed the Act in Parliament. The deadline for implementing the NFSA was extended for thrice.

(TNT News)