It was a Rashomon moment for the readers of the First Common Review Mission report when they heard activists complaining about the pension system of Rajasthan during a recent press conference held in the capital. The First Common Review Mission (CRM) report, which was prepared during the month of May this year by a team of 32 experts had observed that pension related payments under the National Social Assistance Programmes (NSAP)...

-PTI Itanagar: To implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 more effectively, the state government has constituted the Arunachal Pradesh State Food Commission (APSFC). Exercising the powers conferred under section 16 of NFSA, the state governor has delegated the Arunachal Pradesh State Information Commission as the State Food Commission with its supporting staff to discharge the work of the regulatory body for hearing of consumer grievances under the Act, an official...

-The Hindu Move to give nutrition supplements to anganwadi children draws flak. Bengaluru: Can two grams of a plant-based dietary supplement substitute a wholesome balanced meal for anganwadi children? With the Women and Child Development Department all set to administer Spirulina to severely malnourished children, activists and nutritionists are battling for a wholesome meal instead. As announced in the State Budget, the department has decided to administer two gm of Spirulina for 180 days...

-Ideas for India The National Food Security Act was passed in 2013. This column reports findings from a recent survey on the status of the Act in six of India’s poorest states. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal are doing quite well - the PDS is in good shape and most people are covered; however, Bihar and Jharkhand are yet to complete essential PDS reforms. A survey of the National Food...

-The Times of India Jaipur: Frequent snags in the server of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) have led to disruption in the distribution of food grains through the fair price shops in Rajasthan resulting in many violent incidents in the state. The state government has sought the help of the Union food ministry to take up the matter with UIDAI. Dr Subodh Agarwal, principal secretary, food and consumer affairs of...