The state government is in process of framing an action plan for successful implementation of National Food Security Ordinance (NFSO) - a dream project of the Congress-led UPA government.This was stated by chief minister Virbhadra Singh while addressing the chief ministers' conference of Congress ruled states on NFSO in New Delhi on Saturday.
“Himachal has started the process of formulating an action plan to implement NFSO in letter and spirit,” said Singh.Singh assured to meet out nutritional standards fixed for children in anganwadi centres under the NFSO. He said the mid-day meal scheme had been successfully implemented in government schools of the state.
Lauding the provisions in the bill for pregnancy cases, Virbhadra said free-of-cost meals during the lactation period along with maternity benefits of Rs 6,000 would ensure safe delivery and would also reduce the infant and maternal death rate in the state.
Elaborating about the state-run schemes, he said under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TDPS), the state government was providing foodgrain and pulses at subsidised rates to all ration cardholders.
He said the food ordinance might exclude population of about 18.85 lakh from TPDS and also reduce monthly allocation by 17,094 MT of foodgrain to the state.“The state would continue to provide foodgrain to all families irrespective of the fact whether they are covered under the ambit of NFSO or not,” Singh added.
{{/usCountry}}He said the food ordinance might exclude population of about 18.85 lakh from TPDS and also reduce monthly allocation by 17,094 MT of foodgrain to the state.“The state would continue to provide foodgrain to all families irrespective of the fact whether they are covered under the ambit of NFSO or not,” Singh added.
{{/usCountry}}He urged the union government to provide foodgrains (wheat and rice) at the current level of 43,995 MT per month.“BPL families in the state are currently getting 20 kg of wheat and 15 kg of rice per month irrespective of family size,” he said.
Singh urged the union government to allocate foodgrains at a price fixed for BPL families at the existing level of allocations and said the government would maintain the present level of scale to these families.