States don't give food subsidy, Centre does: Paswan

State governments like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have contributed nothing to implement the National Food Security Act and yet try to claim credit for the scheme, union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"I would like to tell the members that claims being made by some states that they are giving rice and paddy free of charge to consumers are not true. The Centre is giving it. If the price of rice is Rs.30 a kg, the Centre is giving (subsidy of) Rs.28," Paswan said in the Lok Sabha during question hour.

"The contribution from Uttar Pradesh government is zero. Bihar's also is zero," he said, replying to supplementary questions.

The central government accounts for about 91 percent of the subsidy on food grain, Paswan said.

"If the price of wheat is Rs.20 a kg, we are feeding the entire country at the rate of Rs.2. Our work in the last two years is revolutionary," the minister said.

In many states instead of the state governments, it is the consumers who are paying for the food grain they consume, he said.

The minister said when the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA took office in 2014, only 11 states agreed to implement the National Food Security Act, but now the stage is set for its implementation in all states.

The act would pave the way for subsidised food grain to be supplied to the intended beneficiaries through the public distribution system, he said.

"Nagaland was the only pending state; now they are also coming on board," the minister said.

--IANS

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