Govt yet to decide on SC suggestion on grains for APL families

New Delhi, July 28 (PTI) The government today said thatit has not yet made up its mind on the Supreme Court'ssuggestion to discontinue providing subsidised foodgrains tofamilies above poverty line (APL)। "The main issue, which I have read from newspapers, iswhat is the government's view on subsidised foodgrains toAPL. Of course, we have not taken any view yet," Food MinisterSharad Pawar told scribes on the sidelines of a function here. The apex court had, on July 27, suggested that thegovernment consider discontinuing supply of subsidised grainsto APL families and, instead, restrict the facility to thosebelow poverty line in view of growing corruption and pilferagein the existing Public Distribution System. "The Supreme Court has sought our reaction. We haven'ttaken any view," Pawar said. Stating that the President of India had spoken about theFood Security Bill during her address at the joint Parliamentsession, Pawar said she had only made a mention aboutproviding subsidised food at Rs 3 per kg of rice and wheat forbelow poverty line families. "On that line, ultimately we have to take a final view,"he added. Pawar said that his ministry was expecting suggestionsfrom the National Advisory Council on the issue, and would behappy to discuss the matter with representatives of stategovernments and the ministries concerned. "Then, the (Food) ministry will take some definite viewand come before the Parliament," he said, declining to giveany time-frame in this regard. "From our side, we have discussed the issue with FoodSecretaries from different states. We have also got some viewsfrom different ministries. But, we are just waiting for someother suggestions," Pawar added. (पीटीआई)