The Union government today lauded the state of Punjab for becoming the first in the country that has implemented food security act totally all over the state and according to its true spirit.Addressing the inaugural session of the State Food Ministers’ meeting to review prices and availability of essential food items, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan said that Punjab has understood the basic spirit of the Act and has a potential to become a torch bearer state to guide other states for effective and systematic implementation of the National Food Security Act besides ensuring door step delivery to the beneficiaries even in the remotest villages. He said that online and systematic monitoring of act, linking the beneficiaries with Adhaar cards and ensuring 100% quality control has put Punjab on a higher pedestal amongst other states.
According to a spokesperson of Punjab government that it was due to the aggressive persuasion by the state government the 11% coverage of the population eligible for receiving subsidized food grains, which was much lower than the neighboring states like with the same socio economic pattern has increased manifold. Punjab government was the first state in the country to have initiated the e-ration cards to the beneficiaries, in order to ensure that only genuine/deserving beneficiaries would get subsidized ration, he added.