New Delhi : Food Ministry is seeking a 12.52 per cent increase in food subsidy for the next fiscal at about Rs 1.40 lakh crore mainly to implement the food law, which is likely to be rolled out in nearly all the states from April.
In last year’s Budget, the government had earmarked Rs 1,24,419 crore for food subsidy for the current fiscal. Out of this, nearly Rs 65,000 crore was for implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA).
According to sources, the Food Ministry has demanded about Rs 1.40 lakh crore for the food subsidy in the upcoming budget for the next financial year. While the overall demand of Union Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry is about Rs 1.82 lakh crore, source added.
The National Food Security Law will be implemented in all states and Union Territories, barring Tamil Nadu, by April this year, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had said.
The food law provides legal entitlement to 5 kg of subsidised foodgrains per person every month at Rs 1-3 kg to two-thirds of India’s population.
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