Agartala, Sep 24 (TIWN): The state government today resolved to postpone implementation of the Food Security Act till a set of pre-requisites including digitization of ration cards, selection of beneficiaries etc were ensured.

Interacting with the media after conclusion of the state cabinet meeting this morning, Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha said that the government would be working to digitize all operational ration cards
in the state, transportation of ration products directly to fair price shops, initiating a food and civil supplies department helpline, start an official website etc in the primary phase.
“Any initiative to introduce the Food Security Act in the state without these pre-requisites would be farcical”, the minister said.
He added that the state government had earlier communicated with the centre over the issue. Fulfillment of the necessary pre-conditions would need a few months following which the central government would allow introduction of the Food Security Act, he said.
Tripura earlier announced plans to introduce Food Security Act from October 01 this year.
Saha claimed that a number of states couldn’t operationalize the Food Security Act due to unclear stand of the central government on dealer commissions and cost estimates.
A letter from the Ministry for Food and Civil Supplies recently confirmed the issue and said that deadline for operationalizing the Food Security Act was extended for three more months.