The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved additional allocation for 50 lakh tonnes of rice for distribution to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families at BPL prices and Above Poverty Line (APL) price for the period July, 2014 to March, 2015 or till implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) by the respective State/UT whichever is earlier.

This will mitigate the problems of the people due to inflation in food prices, particularly in those States/UTs where the NFSA has not been implemented so far.

The allocation is approved in view of the persistent demand from States/Union Territories for more foodgrains to meet their Targeted Public Distributed System (TPDS) requirements.

Food security allocation provides additional rice for BPL and APL families until NFSA implementation, easing public distribution demands. Central approval for additional rice allocation permits distribution to BPL and APL families at respective BPL and APL prices for July 2014-March 2015 or until the National Food Security Act is implemented by the State/UT, aimed at mitigating food-price inflation and meeting Targeted Public Distribution System demands where States/UTs have sought supplementary supplies.