Extra foodgrains to 3 states

Acting quickly on Supreme Court strictures for tardy handling of drought, the central government on Saturday said it had provided extra foodgrains to drought-hit Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, for distribution to even non-ration card holders.

It also urged states to place their requirement for additional foodgrains, which would be met with immediately.

Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, has decided to deliver foodgrains free of cost to two divisions of the Bundelkhand region under the National Food Security Act for three months starting June.

The state will bear a financial burden of Rs 36 crore on account of this and this will cover more than 85 per cent of the population in the Chitrakoot district and over 80 per cent of the population in the Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh food commissioner Ajay Chauhan told Business Standard.
 

Bundelkhand is among the worst-affected drought areas in the country.

"The Supreme Court has said all people should be covered under the food security system of the PDS (public distribution system) in drought-affected states. It is saying to cover the rest of the population. You have to think about it," food secretary Vrinda Sarup said while addressing the state food ministers meet on price rise in New Delhi.

In a judgment pronounced last week on a petition by Swaraj Abhiyan, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to cover all people under the national food security system, appoint state food commissioners, and district redressal officers in drought-hit states.

Three drought-hit states -- Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh -- have asked additional allocation of foodgrains for this purpose, she said.

The Secretary further said that the apex court has also directed appointment of state food commissioners for effective implementation of the food law.

"Some states have done it. The SC will expect that drought-hit states provide affidavit in this regard in the next hearing in August," she said.

She also asked the drought-hit states to appoint district grievance redressal officer as per the National Food Security Act.

"Some of you have already done this. Please go and look at it again as they (SC) said this should be as per the Act." As many as 12 states have declared drought this year due to poor monsoon for the second consecutive year.

Food Minister Paswan meanwhile directed states to initiate a pilot programme in at least some districts to pay cash directly to ration card holders.

"The government is implementing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for LPG subsidy. We wish DBT should be implemented for food subsidy as well," Paswan said.