Issues in food distribution will be soon redress by new law

Admitting to shortcomings in the food distribution system and the menance of middlemen, Centre today said a new law has been formulated to redress issues and it has been sent to states for suggestions.

"There has been no decrease in production. But the distribution process through which it is being made available to people, there are some shortages. There are shortcomings in the law as well.

"To rectify it, the government has made a new Act and has been sent (it) to all the states for their comments," Minister of State for Agriculture Tariq Anwar today said at Panchayat Aajtak conclave here.

"Central government is always blamed for price rise. But the fact is that till the distribution system does not get rectified, people will not be able to get the items properly," he said, adding that middlemen were taking advantage of the distribution system.

The minister came under attack from BJP after he said that wastage of food grains was not happening for the first time, and it was prevelant in developed countries as well.

"It is not that wastage is happening for the first time. It should not happen. It happens in European countries as well. That is why the government came out with a historic Food Security Bill," the minister said.

Attacking the government, BJP vice-president Smriti Irani said that the government failed to redress the issues hurting food distribution system in the country.

Anwar and Irani were speaking at the Panchayat Aajtak conclave organised by Aajtak where political leaders, bureaucrats, and ministers share their thoughts and strategies associated with the upcoming 2014 general elections. Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot was also present at the conclave.