Even as it notified certain guidelines for the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the State for ration supplies, thereby excluding several categories of existing beneficiaries, the Tamil Nadu government clarified on Monday that it would continue providing ration supplies to all eligible card holders under the Universal Public Distribution System.
Addressing mediapersons here, Food Minister R. Kamaraj gave an assurance that ration supplies would remain unchanged, saying, “I would like to emphasise that supplies would certainly be provided to all beneficiaries.”
He added that the preparation of ‘priority’ and ‘non-priority’ households was only aimed at securing supplies from the Centre.
When asked about the NFSA notification issued in the State government gazette, Mr. Kamaraj clarified that the guidelines would not be applicable to the Universal Public Distribution System in Tamil Nadu.
Last week, The Hindu had reported on the guidelines notified by the State government for inclusion and exclusion of PDS beneficiaries. According to the new notification, families with at least one member as an income-tax payer, having an air conditioner, owning a car or having an annual income of ₹1 lakh would have to be excluded. Also, households paying professional tax or owning over five acres of land would be excluded from the benefits of the National Food Security Act.
Subsidy allocation
According to the policy note of the State’s Food Department, under the NFSA, only 50.55% of its population would be covered under the Public Distribution System. The State government has allotted ₹5,500 crore in subsidy for 2017-18 towards the supply of essential commodities under the Public Distribution System and the Special Public Distribution System.