Plans to sensitise children against food wastage: Thomas

"We are going to implement some schemes to bring down food wastage. Discussions have already been held with state governments," Thomas said while addressing the 27th meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC), the apex body on consumer rights, here.

Plans are to include the subject of food wastage in school syllabi and the Union HRD ministry has agreed to implement the scheme, he said.

"HRD and Education departments of states are to include in their school curriculum chapters on the issue of food wastage to catch our children and to sensitise them", he said.

India is one of the countries where there is food security. This year, the country had exported about one billion tonnes of rice and 25 tonnes of wheat. There is no shortage of sugar now, he said.

The Centre has also decided to create a Rs 10 crore seed fund along with state government participation. While the Union Government would pool in Rs 7.5 crore, the state's contribution would Rs 2.5 crore, Thomas said.

Kerala is the first state to accept this formula.

The government is also taking initiative against misleading advertisements to ensure that consumers are not cheated.

"We want self control. We do not want to control media. But through misleading advertisements, consumers should not be cheated," he said.