New Delhi:
The Centre today decided to give additional three months to state governments to implement the National Food Security Act, that gives two-thirds of the country's population the right to subsidised foodgrains.
The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"The deadline for implementation of National Food Security Act expires on July 4. The government has decided to extend the deadline by three months," Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told PTI.
An executive order will be issued in this regard, he said.
So far, Haryana, Rajasthan. Maharashtra, Punjab and Chattisgarh have fully implemented the Act, while Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Chandigarh have partially implemented, he said.
More than 19 states and union territories are yet to implement the provisions of the Act, he added.
Mr Paswan said the issues related to implementation of the Food Act will be discussed with state food and consumer affairs ministers in a meeting to be held next month.
In the same meeting, food inflation issue will also be deliberated upon and measures will be taken to control food prices, he added.
The Act guarantees 5 kg of rice, wheat and coarse cereals per month per person at Rs 3, 2, 1, respectively.