Srinagar: All India Congress Committee spokesman for Jammu and Kashmir, Meem Afzal Monday said that Food Security Bill would be introduced at any cost despite stiff opposition of BJP.
He said government should order probe in mid-day meal schemes and distribution of ration in State as complaints in this regard are being received across JK.
Addressing media persons at Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters here, Afzal said the Congress will introduce food security bill within 180 days. After BJPs opposition, we were forced to come up with ordinance. Now the Congress has decided to move it in the Lok Sabha within next six months, he said.
Afzal said the ordinance seeks to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach by ensuring access to adequate quantity of food at affordable prices to live a life with dignity and for matters concerned therewith and incidental thereto he said.
He said the ordinance provides for the creation of State Food Commission, and each commission shall consist of a chairperson five other members and a member-secretary. The main obligation of the Central government is to provide food grains to state government at prices with specified rates.
The ordinance provides for a two-tier grievance redressal structure involving the District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) and State Food commission. State government must also put in place an internal grievance redressal mechanism which may include call centers, help lines, designation of nodal officers, or such other mechanisms may be prescribed, he added.
When asked about the poor system of ration cards in J&K he said, We will take this issue with the Chief Minster and the problems will be sorted out. (KNS)