New Delhi: Government has formed a task force on food and public distribution to ensure that food grains reach the targeted poor as part of the proper grains management in the country.

New programmes for consumers through welfare councils are also being thought of so that they are aware of their rights and are not duped by dubious product manufacturers.

"The task force headed by food secretary will monitor and supervise all the issues related to management of food grains and liaison with the state governments to ensure smooth functioning of all programmes related to the Ministry," Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Sharad Yadav said in New Delhi.

Presenting the 'report card' of the Ministry for the last three years under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, he said, the task force will look into the anomalies in the public distribution system and suggest self-corrective measures.

Several welfare schemes are being run by the Food Ministry whose progress will be monitored by the task force, he said adding it aims at resolving various contentious issues with states through interaction.

Since various central policies are implemented by the states, the task force will be the medium to channelise various suggestions for execution.

Another issue to be looked at by the body will be prevention of deviation of food grains meant for exports into the domestic market.

It will also look into the procurement mechanism of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) so that maximum farmers benefit from the system, he added.

PTI