Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | NAC Chief Sonia scores on Food Bill by AM Jigeesh

NAC Chief Sonia scores on Food Bill by AM Jigeesh

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jun 5, 2010   modified Modified on Jun 5, 2010


THE NATIONAL Advisory Council ( NAC) headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has scored its first victory — a change in the proposed Food Security Bill that raises the monthly allocation of foodgrains to the poor from 25 kg to 35 kg at Rs 3 a kilo.

The draft Bill, approved by the empowered group of ministers ( EGoM) recently, had offered 25 kg of foodgrains to those below the poverty line. This had drawn criticism from all quarters — the Opposition, a section of the UPA and even the Gandhi family.

Top government sources told MAIL TODAY that the agriculture ministry as well as the Planning Commission have been “ forced to redraft the Bill” at the intervention of the NAC chief. The Food Security Bill is the centrepiece of Sonias social reform agenda and is considered to be this governments trump card just as the farm loan waiver was for the previous regime. “The 35 kg per month proposal has been accepted in principle. Only formalities remain,” highly placed sources said.

Sonia was reportedly annoyed at the slow pace of development on the Bill. After all, it was supposed to be tabled within the first 100 days of the governments swearing- in last May.

The UPA chairpersons intervention has put the Bill on the fast track. The move comes as a setback to agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is also the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party.

The agriculture ministry, citing a possible steep increase in the food subsidy bill and non- availability of foodgrains, had tried to block the original Bill. The ministry pointed out that the subsidy is likely to shoot from Rs 55,578 crore to Rs 85,000 crore. Citing frequent droughts and floods and poor storage capacity, the ministry had also said that availability of foodgrains for the programme will be difficult.

But Sonia was adamant, and it was her writ that finally ran. NAC member N. C. Saxena, who met senior functionaries of the agriculture ministry on Friday, said that the Food Security Act is a government- led programme and that “ the government will ensure adequate funds for the programme.” He told MAIL TODAY: “ Enough foodgrains would be available for the programme.” He said the calculations were simple: “ If the poorest 8.5 crore families were given 35 kg per month or 420 kg per annum, we need 35.7 million tonnes of foodgrains per year. If the next 5.5 crore families were given 15 kg per month or 180 kg per annum, we need an additional 9.9 million tonnes per year. As the total procurement is between 45 to 50 million tonnes, the above formula is within the governments food availability.” A top government official said: “ A meeting of chief ministers and state food ministers will also be held soon. The Bill will most probably be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament, or at most during the winter session.” Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi recently met Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia to discuss the issue.

The ambit of the Bill has been expanded. Now, the term “ food security” does not end with providing a “ minimum quantity of foodgrains”. The redrafted Bill will have provisions to ensure the availability, if needed, of milk, water and medicines along with foodgrains.

The draft Bill had already suggested a “ food security allowance” — an amount that can be paid by the state governments to identified BPL families, who could not be supplied the entitled quantity of foodgrains under the proposed legislation. The government will also include provisions to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS).

A senior government official privy to the ongoing consultations said the new Bill does not mean that those above the poverty line (APL) would be ignored or would have their allocations withdrawn. He said the mid- day meal scheme, allocation for APL, BPL and the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) categories would continue.

Sources in the government said that the responsibility of ensuring food security will be not only with the states but also local governments. Self- help groups would also be involved with a structured supervisory mechanism at all levels put in place by the Centre.

To ensure finance for the ambitious programme, the government has suggested the setting up of a central food security fund. The Bill enforces a “ social audit” on how states perform with this scheme and on their funds management. The Bill ensures that the selection of BPL families would be based on the recommendations of both the Suresh Tendulkar and N. C. Saxena committees on poverty estimation.

As a consequence, close to 40 crore Indians would benefit from the scheme. Apart from the given parameters, all tribal families are likely to be considered as BPL, and the tag may also be extended to the families of all fishermen.

In fact, according to sources, the proposed Bill empowers states to decide the universe of beneficiaries.

There will be three categories of families — 40 per cent poor families, 30 per cent middle class families and 30 per cent affluent families. While 35 kg of foodgrains would be provided to the BPL families, 15 kg are likely to be provided to their middle class counterparts. But the states will have to share the cost of providing foodgrains for the APL category.


Mail Today, 5 June, 2010, http://epaper.mailtoday.in/epaperhome.aspx?issue=562010


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close