`Food security initiative to have quality control mechanism`

The prestigious Food Security initiative of the UPA government provides for various quality control mechanism, AICC spokesman Bhakta Charan Das said.

Hyderabad: The prestigious Food Security initiative of the UPA government provides for various quality control mechanism to ensure that no tragedy like the one with mid-day meals in Bihar happens anywhere, AICC spokesman Bhakta Charan Das said here on Friday. "Several measures like end-to-end computerisation of targeted PDS operations like digitisation of ration cards, computerisation of supply chain, grievance redressal mechanisms, vigilance at every level have been envisaged in the ordinance," Das, who addressed a press conference on the food security ordinance, said. The local elected institutions, women SHGs and panchayats would also be involved in the process, he said. 23 children have lost their lives after consuming mid-day meals in Bihar`s Saran district.

Replying to a query, Das said he does not want to do any politics over the mid-day meal tragedies in Bihar and elsewhere. "It has come out in two-three places when food bill is in the process. Why things like this are coming out, what are the things behind this, I don`t like to say any political things. These are the negligence and misconduct of the people involved in the operation," he said. Asked why an ordinance had to be issued when the Parliament session is about to begin, he said the main opposition and other opposition parties only stalled the Parliament sessions in the last two years. Highlighting the food security ordinance, he said 81 crore people can benefit under the scheme. To another query, he said Congress leadership has seriously taken up the Telangana issue. PTI