‘UDF delayed implementation of Food Security Act to favour wholesalers’

By Special Correspondent on Wed, 26/10/2016 - 12:29

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies P. Thilothaman said in the Assembly on Wednesday that the UDF government had deliberately delayed implementation of the Food Security Act in the State.

The Minister alleged that this was to favour the wholesale ration dealers. The three-year delay in implementing the Act (from 2013 to 2016) caused a loss of Rs. 600 crore to Rs. 700 crore a year to the State.

Mr. Thilothaman was responding to a notice for moving adjournment motion, given by Anoop Jacob (Kerala Congress-Jacob), on large number of complaints over draft list published for issue of ration cards and difficulties caused by the public on that count. The UDF and Kerala Congress (M) later staged a walkout over the issue.

The Minister said that the present situation would not have arisen if Mr. Jacob, who was the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the UDF ministry, had shown due diligence. The UDF also could not secure due share of grains to the State though Congress leader K. V. Thomas was the civil supplies minister at the Centre when the Act was enacted. Even smaller States such as Assam and Odisha had secured better share.

Mr. Jacob challenged the Minister whether he can bring proof that implementation of the Act was delayed for the wholesalers.

He said that the time granted for redress of complaints on the draft list was inadequate. There was hardly any time for proper verification of claims.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the confusion and anarchy was prevailing in the public distribution system. This was the result of ineptness of LDF government in the State and BJP government at the Centre. There had been no preparation to handle complaints on the draft list.

The Opposition Leader also said that the government had published personal data of cardholders disregarding Supreme Court rulings on privacy. Fishermen were being denied kerosene through the PDS, because of the step-motherly attitude of Central government.