The National Food Security Act has been extended by three months, Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, Ramvilas Paswan said here on Saturday.
The three-month extension comes against an appeal by the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government to extend implementation time the Act by six months.
Paswan, today met the State Consumer Affairs Minister, Sadhan Pandey, where the request for extending implementation of the National Food Security Act was said to be made.
West Bengal is amongst the many states that are yet to implement the Act. Passed by the Congress-led UPA, the Act was said to be implemented by July this year.
However, so far only 5 states have fully implemented it and 6 have done so partially.
Although the Act was passed in September 2013, the ordinance was issued in July last year.
The Food Security Act gives legal entitlement to highly subsidised foodgrains. Each eligible person would get 5 kg of of rice and wheat at 3/kg and 2 a kg.