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Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/non-congress-states-opposes-food-security-bill-rituraj-tiwari-19403.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Non-Congress states opposes food security bill-Rituraj Tiwari | Im4change.org
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Non-Congress states opposes food security bill-Rituraj Tiwari
-The Economic Times

The Centre may find it difficult to build political consensus on the National Food Security Bill as several non-Congress-ruled states have expressed their opposition to the scheme.

Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have already expressed their dissent while Chhattisgarh has rolled out its own food security scheme.

With more than 40% of the country's population residing in these five states, the Bill may not have the desired impact of alleviating hunger without their support.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is opposed to the Bill because it will not cover the entire poor population in the state. "Going by official figures, UP has 37.7% (7.38 crore) of state population living below the poverty line (BPL) compared to other states like Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu, where corresponding figures range between 12% and 24.5%. We want universal coverage in rural Uttar Pradesh, and 95% cover for the state's urban population," he said in a letter to the prime minister.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also written to the prime minister raising similar concerns. In his view, the exclusion ratio should not be made uniform across the country. "Otherwise, poorer states will stand to lose... National Food Security Bill is a Central legislation, which has been proposed pursuant to the Central government's own planning and policy," the letter said.

Kumar also suggested that a BPL commission be set up to identify genuine beneficiaries. The Bill has been in the works since 2011.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee has called the Bill a "ploy" by the Centre to deceive people ahead of the next year's general elections. "The Centre deducted money from the state on grounds that it required funds for implementing the National Food Security Bill," she has recently said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa also wants her state to be exempted from implementing the National Food Security Bill. In a letter to the prime minister, she has said the choice of implementing welfare schemes should be best left to states.

"The proposed bill on food security is replete with confusion. The very basis of target groups is unscientific and unacceptable.... The Centre should not encroach upon the domain of states," she has said.

BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh has rolled out its own Food Security Act which covers 90% of the population. Poor families are entitled to 35 kg of rice a month, 2 kg of pulses at .`5 per kg and free iodised salt.

The Chhattisgarh legislation is thus broader than the Centre's proposal which covers only 67% of the population and offers only food grains at subsidised rates.
Bumper mustard crop likely this year

The country is likely to harvest a bumper mustard crop this year with a 20% increase in output to 71.12 lakh tonne. Acreage has gone up by 1.85 lakh hectare to 67.17 lakh hectare.

A field study in major mustard-growing regions by Solvent Extractor Association, an industry body, showed a remarkable increase in output boosting availability of edible oil.

"Due to good subsoil moisture at the time of sowing, useful showers during January and February and minimum damage due to severe cold, we will be able to get a bumper mustard crop this year," said B V Mehta, executive director, Solvent Extractors Association (SEA). According to SEA data, Rajasthan, which contributes more than 40% to country's mustard output, will produce over 34 lakh tonne this year followed by Uttar Pradesh's 10 lakh tonne.