Food security Act implementation will not affect state subsidy scheme, assures AIADMK

The All India Anna Dravida Muunetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has said the universal public distribution system, government's flagship programme, would continue to remain in force despite the Tamil Nadu government's decision to implement National Food Security Act (NFSA).

"Any scheme, Centre and states need to go together, so we gave some ideas also and by seeing that, our Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has decided to implement the scheme provided by Central government. Regardless of that, all the schemes provided by our government to the people will continue," AIADMK leader C.R.Saraswathy told ANI.

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday announced that it would implement the Act, effective November 1.

At present, the maximum rice entitlement per card is 20 kg a month. Besides, each child is being given 2 kg a month and each adult, 4 kg a month.

After the introduction of the Act, all beneficiaries, irrespective of age, are entitled to 5 kg every month.

The government has also decided to keep the minimum rice entitlement at 12 kg a month even if a card has only one beneficiary, though the entitlement per person under the NFSA is only 5 kg. If there are five persons in a family, the monthly entitlement will be 25 kg.