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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | NAC to okay food bill on Wednesday by Devesh Kumar

NAC to okay food bill on Wednesday by Devesh Kumar

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published Published on Jul 13, 2010   modified Modified on Jul 13, 2010


The National Advisory Council likely to approve on Wednesday the draft of the National Food Security Bill. The scheme will be rolled out in the 150 poorest districts first on the basis of a `notional universalisation.’

Rejecting the recommendation put forward by the EGoM, NAC, at its meeting held on July 1, settled for the distribution of 35 kg of grain, either wheat or rice, to every poor household, but left the issue of the price at which it was to be sold under the scheme, open-ended.

While NAC members have been pushing for a blanket universalisation, there is realisation that such an ambitious target would be impossible to meet, given the country’s food production and procurement scenario.

Such a programme would mean making arrangements for the supply of some 90 million tonnes of grain every year. The government had procured 59 million tonnes of rice and wheat in 2009-10.

With universal entitlement of grain ruled out, NAC members are looking at the next best scenario of ensuring food security to the poorest of the poor. While categories such as children and women would be fully covered under the ambit of the scheme, majority of Muslims too are likely to brought under its purview in view of their economic status. For the rest, it was decided that a lesser amount of grain would be supplied under the scheme.

Taking a cue from NREGA, NAC, at its previous meeting, decided to unveil the food security programme in 150 poorest districts of the country first. The members felt that by doing so, the government could make an assessment of the strengths and shortcomings of the scheme, take corrective steps before rolling it out in the other parts of the country.

NAC members admit that the task of identifying the truly-deserving population was cumbersome and that a fresh survey would have to be undertaken to zero down on them.

NAC, at its previous meeting, also emphasised on the importance of the nutritional aspect, and was studying the possibility of weaving it to food security. Sections such as children and women suffer from acute nutritional deficiencies and the panel felt that this aspect had to be addressed to make the scheme successful.

NAC members also agree that the urban poor too would have to be brought under the programme’s net. ``There is a large population which migrates from the rural to the urban areas every year, and their economic status does not undergo any significant change with transition. The panel will have to take a call on their inclusion,’’ said a member.

After its approval by NAC, the draft National Food Security Bill is expected to be forwarded to the government.


The Economic Times, 13 July, 2010, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/NAC-to-okay-food-bill-on-Wednesday/articleshow/6161286.cms


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