Ahmed Patel attacks Guj govt over implementation of Food Security Act

Ahmedabad: Hitting out at the Gujarat government over implementation of Food Security Act, Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel today claimed that it is yet to "complete" the process of identification of beneficiaries under the Act.

Patel, who is political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, also said that it will take another two years for the poor to get benefits under the Act.

"We are talking about Digital India now a days, but, Gujarat government has not completed the process of identifying the poor beneficiaries to be covered under NFSA yet. This government will take another two years, which means that poor citizens of this state will get the benefits after two years," Patel was quoted as saying in a release issued by Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee.

The 66-year-old leader was speaking after felicitating Muslim students in Bharuch town of South Gujarat.

He also expressed concern about the rising cost of education and alleged that Centre has curtailed budget allocation for this sector.

"Commercialisation of education sector has breached all the limits. Education-for-all at affordable cost is something which we are yet to achieve. Government run school are in bad shape while poor and middle class citizens are finding it difficult to bear the cost of education for their children" he said.

"Standard of education has been drastically deteriorated. On the other side, the Centre has reduced the fund allocation to education and health sector," Patel claimed.