Provide quality food or we will look at options: Zulfkar
‘NFSA will mark a paradigm shift to meet food shortage’
Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) and Tribal Affairs Ch. Zulfkar Ali Saturday issued strict instructions to Food Corporation of India (FCI) asking it to provide quality food grains to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Reviewing the preparatory arrangements being made for the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA), Minister warned the FCI that if it failed to provide quality food grains to the department, the state will then explore for alternative arrangements to ensure better food for consumers.Expressing dismay over the repeated complaints of presence of sub-standard food grains being supplied by FCI, Minister said the department is not going to accept sub standard food grains in anyway. “We pay them (FCI) in full and in advance, in return we will not accept bad quality food grains, he said adding the government will reject procurement of low-grade food grains to keep its promise and determination for providing quality essentials to the people.
Deliberating upon the implementation of NFSA in the state, minister said the proposed move is aimed to mark a paradigm shift in addressing the shortage of food from the current welfare approach to right based.
During the meeting, minister also designated an officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to monitor its implementation besides preparing a holistic and comprehensive roadmap portraying issues and challenges for its implementation in the light of the total allocation, Food storage capacity and funds required for the implementation of the NFA besides weather conditions and its impact on the storage.
He also called for modernization of existing CAPD godowns as it is prerequisite for the implementation of the act.
Minister said the implementation of NFSA will be a landmark event in the state for the welfare of the people. “It (NFSA) provides for and asserts the physical economic and social right of all the citizens to have an access to nutritious food consistent with an adequate diet necessary to lead an active and healthy life with dignity”.
