'Cash transfer for food to be Aadhaar-based'

The Centre would implement cash transfers for food entitlements under the proposed Food Security Bill only after 90 per cent of the eligible heads possess the Aadhaar-based identity proof, said KV Thomas, minister of state for food and consumer affairs.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the regional and district offices of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the state, he said, the Aadhaar would be the sole criterion for receiving the food provisions and added the present system of food grants would continue.

However, he did not comment on when the Bill was expected to be discussed and passed in Parliament.

Responding to a request of MP Nirmala, secretary, food, consumer affairs and public distribution, for more subsidy for pulses and changes in purchase policies to help farmers sell their produce in other states, the minister said the matter was under discussion.

The new building of FCI in Chennai has come up at a cost of around Rs 14.37 crore. The FCI-Tamil Nadu region was  meeting state public distribution system and various other welfare schemes’ requirements by inducting approximately 336,000 tonne foodgrains every month. The FCI has a storage capacity of 1 million tonne in the state, including central and state warehousing corporations and private godowns.