Tamil Nadu CM Vijay writes to PM Modi opposing crucial amendment in Food Safety Act

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C. Joseph Vijay. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday urged the Union government to retain the existing entitlement of 35 kilograms of foodgrains per month for every household covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), irrespective of the number of family members, as has been the case since the enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Vijay asked the Center to reconsider the proposed amendment to the first provision of sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the National Food Safety Act, 2013.

“If the proposed amendment comes into force without modification, it would diminish the food security of nearly 70 million of Tamil Nadu’s most vulnerable citizens,” he said in the letter, a copy of which was distributed to the media.

The Chief Minister pointed out that while the existing provision guarantees 35 kilograms of food grains per household per month, irrespective of family size, the proposed amendment seeks to provide 7 kilograms per person per month, subject to an overall ceiling of 35 kilograms per household.

Although the Union government explained that the amendment aims to eliminate intra-category inequalities and align entitlements more closely with nutritional needs, its practical effect would be a substantial reduction in the quantity of foodgrains reaching the poorest households in Tamil Nadu, where the average family size is only 3.54 members, it said.

Tamil Nadu currently has 18,64,600 AAY ration cards, covering 69,26,983 beneficiaries. These households belong to the most vulnerable sections of society identified according to the Government of India’s eligibility criteria, including families headed by widows, disabled people, elderly people without a regular source of income, tribal families, landless agricultural labourers, daily wage earners and people suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

“It is precisely the households that the National Food Security Act was designed to protect through an assured and unconditional entitlement. The Act was enacted by Parliament as a last resort protective measure for the poorest of the poor, and its entitlements have been deliberately formulated to be simple, unconditional and household-based so that no family, regardless of its size, is left without adequate food grains or exposed to hidden hunger and malnutrition,” Mr. Vijay said.

He argued that converting this entitlement to a per capita benefit, while retaining a cap at the household level, would effectively penalize states with smaller family sizes, particularly those in southern India that have successfully implemented the Union government’s family planning programme.

Mr. Vijay noted that Tamil Nadu has always maintained a robust and efficiently administered public distribution system and has extended coverage and entitlements beyond central norms wherever necessary, reflecting its long-standing commitment to eliminating hunger and ensuring nutritional security.

He also pointed out that Tamil Nadu is primarily a rice-consuming state and the rice provided to AAY beneficiaries forms the staple food for all three meals of the day.

“It cannot be replaced by any other product purchased on the open market. Any reduction in this duty would impose a significant financial burden on these families, pushing them towards poverty, malnutrition and hunger,” he said.

Published – July 7, 2026 at 00:25 IST

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos