The Government is unlikely to provide more time to states and union territories (UTs) for implementing the landmark National Food Security law after the deadline expires this month.
The food law was passed by Parliament in 2013 and the state governments were given one year time to roll out the scheme. Since then, the deadline has been extended thrice with the latest one ending on September 30. So far, only 13 states and UTs have implemented the food law, which aims at providing a legal entitlement to 5 kg of subsidised foodgrains per person every month at Rs1-3 kg to two-thirds of India's population. “We are thinking of not extending the deadline further.”