Thomas to focus on food prices

New Delhi, Jan. 19: After the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, took off the load from the agriculture minister, Mr Sharad Pawars shoulders by taking away the food and consumer affairs portfolio from the NCP chief, the new food and consumer affairs minister, Mr K.V. Thomas, said controlling high food prices would be his top priority.The biggest challenge will be price rise of onion and other vegetable items. I think everybody should work together, Mr Thomas said. He said prices of vegetables will have to be brought under control with the assistance of states, panchayats and the farmers.He will also be responsible for drafting the National Food Security Bill, besides fixing the corrupt and inefficient public distribution system. The food ministry had been citing unavailability of grains as a constraint towards the implementation of the Bill. Mr Thomas would also have to tackle the problem of grain wastage due to lack of storage facilities. Distribution of foodgrains to the poor through ration shops across the country is a Herculean task, he added. Under attack from the Opposition due to high food prices, which have been hitting the UPA government, Mr Pawar had asked the PM to lighten his burden last year. Before the reshuffle, Mr Pawar was heading the agriculture, food and public distribution and consumer affairs ministries. Now, besides agriculture, Mr Pawar would head the food processing ministry. He would get two junior ministers (both Congress MPs), Mr Harish Rawat and Mr Arun Yadav, to assist him.

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