Food Minister Hails National Food Security Act as a Tool for Social Justice

Food Security Act as a Pillar of Social Justice

Bhopal | July 21, 2026 | Madhya Pradesh's Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection, Govind Singh Rajput, has emphasized that the National Food Security Act is far more than a mere grain distribution scheme, characterizing it as a robust medium for social justice.

He stated that the Act provides a constitutional basis for poor, underprivileged, and needy families to live with dignity. Addressing a two-day national workshop in Bhopal, jointly organized by the State Food Commission and the Central NITI Aayog on 'National Food Security Act 2013: Progress, Challenges, and Future Direction', Minister Rajput stressed the state government's commitment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Garib Kalyan' (welfare of the poor) vision and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav's leadership to ensure no eligible family in the state is deprived of their right to food and goes to bed hungry.

Modernizing Public Distribution System

Minister Rajput highlighted the extensive reforms implemented in the Public Distribution System (PDS), which have made the system more modern, transparent, and people-centric. He explained that now, every piece of information regarding ration, from the distribution center to the consumer, is communicated via SMS to registered mobile numbers.

The government's aim is not just to provide rations but to ensure that every eligible beneficiary receives their rightful share on time, with complete transparency and accountability. To achieve this, fair price shops have been integrated with advanced technology, including authentication via POS machines, e-KYC, digital ration distribution, online monitoring, and real-time tracking of the entire supply chain. These innovations have not only enhanced transparency and reliability in the food distribution system but have also effectively curbed irregularities, strengthening the trust of beneficiaries.

Food Security Essential for a Developed Madhya Pradesh

In his address, Minister Rajput stated that the dream of a developed Madhya Pradesh can only be realized when every citizen's right to food, nutrition, and social security is fully guaranteed. The state government is continuously working towards this goal, ensuring that no eligible family is deprived of their entitlements under any circumstances.

He called for joint participation from society and the government in the state's development. Appealing to public representatives, officials, social service organizations, and citizens, he urged them to play an active role in ensuring every eligible beneficiary receives their due. The Minister expressed confidence that the resolve to build a hunger-free, malnutrition-free, self-reliant, and developed Madhya Pradesh will be realized through the combined efforts of the government and society.

The Food Minister also informed that elderly and disabled consumers in the state can nominate a person to collect their food grains. As an innovation, the 'Your Ration-Your Doorstep' scheme has been implemented, under which ration vehicles directly reach villages to provide food grains to consumers. This scheme is proving particularly beneficial for people living in remote areas, eliminating the need for them to travel long distances for their rations.

Studying Best Practices from Other States

During the workshop, Minister Govind Singh Rajput also announced that a team of officials will be deputed to study the best food grain distribution and food security schemes operating in other states. He stated that this team will submit its report, based on which important suggestions will be considered for implementation in Madhya Pradesh. He also assured that the valuable suggestions received during the workshop would be put into practice.

Shedding light on the workshop's objectives, Madhya Pradesh State Food Commission Secretary Shri Shriman Shukla stated that the main aim of this event was to assess the progress of the National Food Security Act's implementation, identify the challenges it faces, and chart out future directions. The significant national workshop was attended by eminent economist and former NITI Aayog member Prof. Ramesh Chandra, Madhya Pradesh State Food Commission Chairman Prof. Virendra Kumar Malhotra, Commissioner Food Bhaskar Lakshkar, Dr. Yogesh Suri, representatives from NITI Aayog, Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of Food Commissions from various states across the country, and senior officials from the Food Department. This event proved to be an important step in the field of food security, facilitating an exchange of experiences and suggestions from different states.