Additional foodgrain allocation to non-NFSA states to continue

The union cabinet on Thursday decided to continue the monthly additional allocation of foodgrains to states yet to implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

"The government has decided to continue the monthly additional APL (above poverty line) and BPL (below poverty line) allocation to the non-NFSA states/UTs from October 2015 to March 2016 or till implementation of the Act in these states/UTs, whichever is earlier, at APL and BPL rates," an official statement said.

The NFSA came into force in July 2013 under which two-third population of the country will be provided foodgrains at highly subsidised rates of Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Rs.3 per kg for rice. The coverage under the Act is based on the 2011 population estimates.

It was expected that the Act will be implemented in all states/UTs latest by September 2015 and beneficiaries will start receiving highly subsidised wheat and rice under the PDS system.

Accordingly, additional allocation for APL and BPL families during the current financial year was made to non NFSA states/UTs only upto September 2015.

Twenty states/UTs have begun implementing the NFSA while the rest of the states/UTs are still under existing Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

These states are, however, under active preparation to implement the NFSA within the next few months.