India

Panel in place soon to roll out schemes under Food Security Act in UP

PNS

With an aim to effectively implement Food Security Act by July next year, the State Government has decided to set up a steering monitoring committee in the State to be headed by Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani.

“The committee will meet regularly and review the implementation of the Food Security Bill up to the village level,” Usmani said in a statement issued here on Friday.

Though Samajwadi Party had supported the Food Security Bill in Parliament after some amendments, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had claimed that its implementation would not be an easy task. With this meeting Government has taken the first step towards its effective implementation.

Chief Secretary declared that this bill will be enforced by July 14 in letter and spirit. Under this scheme over 15 crore people would be benefited. The beneficiaries would get subsidised food grain. The rice would be sold at `3 per kg and wheat at `2 per kg.

“The new beneficiaries would be identified and fresh ration cards would be made by the stipulated time. The

complete list would be uploaded to maintain transparency in the distribution network,” Usmani said.

The meeting that was attended by senior officials has  decided to set up special cells in the Government as well as in the office of the Food Commissioner that would be  headed by officials of the ranks of Special Secretary and  Additional Commissioner respectively.