J&K State has been having reservations in implementing the National Food Security Act for various reasons. These reservations have been conveyed to the Union Ministry of Food by the previous as well as the present Government. However, recently the Union Minister for CA&PD had called a meeting of Ministers of various States to discuss measures to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities and food items. Speaking on the occasion J&K Food and Consumer Affairs Minister urged the Union Minister to approve 9.50 lakh MT of food grains to J&K, so that it is able to implement the National Food Security Act.
It is obvious that the State Government would want to be on the safe side of adequate supply of food grains so that the clauses of the Act would be implemented. At present the quota of the State is 7.51 lakh MT of food grains. The Minister has approached the centre to meet the shortfall in this context. Additionally the Minister has sought permission for coverage of 90% population in rural areas and 75% in urban areas. He said presently 63.55% population in rural areas and 47.10% for urban areas have been determined to be covered as per census 2011.
There is sufficient justification for both of these demands keeping in view the topographical conditions and the size of rural population that has to be provided with food supplies. The State Government has been demanding treatment at par with the NE States which are also hilly and most of the rural populations live in small localities spread over vast hilly tracts. We would like that the Union Ministry of Food takes a positive view of the request of J&K for supply of adequate quantity of food grains so that the NFS Act is implemented and people derive the benefit out of it.
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