STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Projecting various Food issues of J and K to Central Government, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has represented J and K in National Consultation Meeting of Food Ministers of all the States and Union Territories of India and pleaded for 4.30 lakh metric tons of additional ration on APL rates for implementation of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) which is likely to be implemented from 1st July, 2016.
The national level meeting which was chaired by Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan with Union Minister of Agriculture Radha Mohan as special guest, it was attended by majority of Food Ministers of Indian States and Union Territories besides Secretaries of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Departments and Controllers of Legal Metrology Department of all the states of Indian.
Pleading for additional ration to implement MMSFES, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali while addressing in the meeting said that State Government has to procure 11.37 lakh metric tons of foodgrains for which an amount of Rs 1,367 crore are required annually. He said that Rs 1,030 Crore will be recouped on account of sale proceeds thereby creating a net deficit worth Rs 337 crore annually. He demanded additional 4.30 lakh MT ration on APL rates to implement this scheme and also demanded Union Minister to issue necessary instructions to Food Corporation of India to ensure availability of 4.30 MT foodgrains for J and K from 1st July, 2016. He also projected release of already agreed Rs 8.70 crore for strengthening of infrastructure of Legal Metrology, establishing of standard laboratories, research and development Labs.
Paswan appreciated Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali for his efforts in streamlining the department and making it a vibrant department in J and K.