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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Pawar flags food law challenges

Pawar flags food law challenges

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published Published on Feb 9, 2012   modified Modified on Feb 9, 2012
-The Telegraph
 
The proposed food security law may not succeed unless the government revamps the public distribution system (PDS) and creates back-up infrastructure, Sharad Pawar said today about the bill seen as a Sonia Gandhi pet project.

“I will be failing in my duty if I do not emphasise the food security act will never succeed in achieving its goals in letter and spirit if we try to push the same through the PDS apparatus,” the agriculture minister told a conference of state agriculture and food ministers.

Pranab Mukherjee, who inaugurated the event, acknowledged “huge investments” are required in agriculture if the bill has to meet its objectives but called for solutions “despite problems and constraints”.

Mukherjee expressed worries about the costs, though. “As finance minister, when I think of the enormity of the subsidies to be provided, I lose my sleep. There is no doubt,” he said.

The proposed act is likely to cost the Centre Rs 2 lakh crore annually. This food subsidy bill for the current financial year is over Rs 60,000 crore.

Pawar highlighted the constraints, saying “a massive process re-engineering” was required to make the PDS compatible with the law.

The bill aims to provide legal rights to subsidised grain to 63.5 per cent of the population. Seven kilograms will be supplied every month at concessional rates to a priority household (such as BPL families) and 3kg to a general one.

The bill was introduced in Parliament in December and has been referred to a standing committee.

Implementing the bill will require raising the annual grain procurement to about 65 million tonnes annually from around 55 million tonnes at present.

Pawar said the law would need to be backed by extensive efforts to improve storage facilities, wholesale markets, the inspection mechanism and transport networks.

“There are serious limitations on all fronts… even at the current level of operations, the railways find it difficult to handle grains movement. Above all, we will have to take up a massive programme to increase foodgrain production without compromising the production of other crops. This will require large-scale investment in irrigation, power, fertilisers and seeds,” Pawar said at the conference.

The two-day meet has been called to debate ways to improve the PDS and come up with an action plan to ensure the law becomes a success.

Like Pawar, Mukherjee dwelt on reforms in the PDS and flagged Aadhaar, the unique ID number proposed for all citizens, as one of the key planks in the revamp. It will reduce “duplicates”, “fakes” and “ghost” beneficiaries, helping reduce wastage and diversion in the system.

Unique Identification Authority of India chief Nandan Nilekani, who also spoke at today’s conference, echoed the finance minister. “The draft food bill clearly says Aadhaar will be used for enrolments in PDS.”

The Telegraph, 9 February, 2012, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120209/jsp/nation/story_15112619.jsp


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