The Government has given three more months to States to implement the National Food Security Programme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also urged States to set up special courts for speedy trial of hoarders and black-marketers.

All these issues were discussed at a meeting called by Modi to review the progress of the monsoon and steps to contain inflation.

“The deadline for implementation of the National Food Security Act expires on July 4. The Government has decided to extend it by three months,” Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters after the meeting. The Act assures subsidised grains to about two-thirds of the country and came into effect on July 5, 2013. All States were given a year to implement its provisions.

Paswan said issues related to implementing the Food Security Act, which is likely to cost the Centre ₹25,000 crore more in subsidies, will be discussed during the Conference of State Food and Consumer Affairs Ministers on July 4.

The conference will also discuss ways to curb food inflation. He said a lot of the inflation problem had been artificially created due to hoarding, owing to fears of deficit in the future. State Ministers would also discuss the ways to check hoarding of grains.

Inflation management In the meeting, it was observed that recent measures were having a positive effect, with adequate rice stocks reaching markets. There is now no shortage of onion stocks in Delhi. Last week, the Government announced measures, such asking States to act against hoarders and delisting fruits and vegetables from the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act besides releasing five million tonnes of rice in open market and providing credit line to States for importing edible oil and pulses.

Rainfall deficit Inflationary expectations are building up due to the tardy progress of the monsoon. There has been a deficit of 37 per cent in cumulative rainfall from June 1 across the country, with the monsoon yet to advance to Central and Western India. However, officials from India Meteorological Department, present in the meeting said though the monsoon had been delayed, rainfall was likely to improve substantially in July and August.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the position of water reservoirs and fodder stock. He directed that maximum possible use be made of existing water resources, and best practices in rainwater harvesting.

Modi stressed on the need for both Centre and States to proactively mount a coordinated effort in implementing the advance action plan for the monsoon, with districts, rather than States, being the unit of planning.

The Prime Minister stressed on ensuring adequate power and seed availability for the agricultural sector, and said MGNREGA (the rural job guarantee scheme) be used to generate employment, if necessary. It may be noted that the Agriculture Ministry is preparing a contingency plan for more than 500 districts.

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