'Centre Yet to Address State's Concerns'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The Centre is yet to address certain key concerns raised by the state regarding annual allotment of food grain and its transportation when the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is enforced in the state, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said on Wednesday.

The Minister was speaking after releasing the ‘Viability Study on Authorised Ration Dealers (ARD) and Authorised Wholesale Dealers (AWD)’ conducted by UN agency World Food Programme (WFP) for the Civil Supplies Department. While Kerala has agreed to enforce NFSA by March-end this year, the state had also raised three issues before the Centre. Under NFSA, the state wanted Central financial aid for the transportation of food grains up to ration shops. This ‘doorstep delivery,’ according to Anoop Jacob, would otherwise cost the state Rs 250 crore per year. Likewise, the state had also sought clarification on the grain allocation for welfare institutions such as orphanages and old age homes under NFSA. And thirdly, the state had also requested that its annual allotment of food grains should be fixed at 16.25 lakh metric tonnes. The state government has not received an answer on any of three issues, Anoop Jacob said.

The ration card renewal camps were progressing satisfactorily across the state, he said.

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