A year after its decision to implement the National Food Security Act in Tamil Nadu, the State government will soon constitute the State Food Commission, a body meant for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the law.
A senior official in the Food and Civil Supplies department said that though he could not reveal details regarding the timing of the announcement on the Commission, it [the Commission] was “coming shortly.”
In July, the government framed rules for the Act, which includes provisions on the Commission.
The seven-member panel will be headed by an officer not below the rank of a Secretary to the government. The chairperson and the members of the body, who will hold office for five years, are required to have knowledge and experience in matters relating to food security, policy making and administration in the fields of agriculture, civil supplies, nutrition, health or any allied field.
As the law has provided for the inclusion of non-official members, they can be persons of “eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in agriculture, law, human rights, social service, management, nutrition, health, food policy or public administration; or who have a proven record of work relating to the improvement of the food and nutrition rights of the poor.”
The Commission should have at least two women, one Scheduled Caste and one Scheduled Tribe, either in the capacity of the chairperson of the panel or its members.
Regular meetings
According to the rules framed by the State government, the Commission is required to meet at least once a week. It will hold “regular meetings” with officers of the Civil Supplies department, other agencies concerned of the government, non-governmental organisations and members of civil society.
The official added that the government has put in place district-level vigilance committees, headed by the District Collectors concerned, while the Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation is heading the city panel.
Grievance redressal
The official said beneficiaries of the public distribution system (PDS) can report issues to the department’s helpline numbers (1967 or 1800-425-5901 or 044-28592828) so that remedial action can be pursued.
If anyone receives a message on his or her mobile number regarding false purchase of essential commodities, he or she can use the abovementioned numbers for this purpose, furnishing the respective smart card number or the registered mobile number.