Union Minister of State for Food Prof. K. V. Thomas has today said, North Eastern states of the country will implement the National Food Security Act by February or March next year.
Speaking to mediapersons at the Tulihal Airport in Imphal this afternoon he said, Centre has given instructions to the states to implement the law and the Northeast states will be ready for implementation of the same by February or March next year. He also said, it is needed to plug the leakage in the public distribution system before implementing it.
Prof. Thomas said, Centre had accepted a proposal made by Manipur Government for opening a regional office of the Food Corporation of India(FCI) in Imphal and the Prime Minister had already instructed him to take care of the matter. He said, he will depute officials here and start the process very soon to materialize it. Prof. Thomas arrived Imphal this afternoon on a two day visit to Manipur to assess the preparation and discuss difficulties faced by the state government in implementing the National Food Security Act. He met state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh this evening and discussed the requirements of the state in implementing the food security Act. He will inaugurate a newly constructed FCI godown at Mayangkhang Village of Senapati District tomorrow.