States must evolve common norms for implementing National Food Security Act and bring in its ambit the poor migrant workers also, said NHRC Chairperson Justice H L Dattu.
Speaking on the concluding day of the two-day National Conference on Right to Food in New Delhi, Dattu said that there is a need for the convergence of brilliant ideas and programmes, being put to use by different State Governments, into 'one mission' with 'one approach' deleting any dichotomies in the implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) across the country.
"It is not understandable why the country cannot have a common Standard Operating Procedure on matters of governance, especially, in the implementation of the programmes like NFSA. A common programme of implementation mechanism will go a long way in ultimately ensuring portability of food for all in the country, which should be the primary goal.
"The NFSA has to be an inclusive provision of law, in terms of providing its benefit to the poor migrant labourers also, who may not have documents to support their claim under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) of their place of migration," said Dattu.
The NHRC Chairperson also said that the civil society and NGOs, already doing constructive work, should also devote themselves to building awareness about Government schemes in not only rural and tribal areas but also in the urban areas.
He also appealed to all people to come forward in sharing this responsibility of the State. They should ensure that excess food is not wasted and is given to the needy.
The Commission will further deliberate upon the suggestions for improving the food security mechanism in the country and send its final recommendations to the Government.
