Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs K. V. Thomas says, the centre has enough food grains in store to implement the Right to Food Security Bill.
Addressing the All India Editors Conference on Social security issues in Puducherry, he said the historic initiative by the government marks a paradigm shift in food security from a welfare scheme to a legal entitlement. He said the additional financial implication on implementing the bill will be just over Rs 2500 crores.
Calling for modernization of the Public Distribution system in the states Thomas said unless this is ensured, the success of the Food Security cannot be achieved. The minister said states have been asked to carry out digitalization of ration card besides computerized allocation of fair-price shops to make Public Distribution System more effective.
Thomas said in the last one and half years, the computerization programme has led to weeding out of over two crore bogus ration cards in circulation
Referring to objections raised by West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on the bill, the minister said he will be meeting the Chief Ministers of the two states to clear their misconceptions.
