Food security implementation: Maha Govt sets up cabinet panel

Maharashtra government has set up a cabinet sub-committee, headed by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, to decide on guidelines for selecting beneficiaries to implement the Food Security Act in the state.

The nine-member committee would include Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Food and Civil Supplies minister Anil Deshmukh and also ministers for tribal development, agriculture, rural development, textiles and water resources, an official said here today.

The state government has issued a resolution announcing setting up of the committee. As per the resolution, the panel would decide on guidelines for selecting 76.32 per cent people from the rural area and 45.34 per cent crore people from the urban area.

The state government has completed the preparations for implementation of the Food Security Act which is expected to come into force from December.

Of the 11.23 crore people in the state, 7.17 crore people will benefit by this act. Of this 4.70 crore people (76.32 per cent) will be from the rural area which 2.30 crore people (45.34 per cent) will be from the urban area.

There are 1,024 warehouses in the state with a capacity of 5.62 lakh tonne. Also, data, necessary for the distribution system is available for 8.5 crore people.

The state government has undertaken a programme to build 611 new warehouses using Rs 2000 crore funds from various schemes. This will create 13.5 lakh tonne addition storage capacity.

The Collector or the Deputy Collector will act as the grievance redressal authority for implementation of the Act.