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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Poor storage, movement of foodgrains a worry again by K Balchand

Poor storage, movement of foodgrains a worry again by K Balchand

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published Published on Jun 13, 2011   modified Modified on Jun 13, 2011
Rise to the occasion, PM tells Railways

Ministry yet to finalise Food Security Bill draft

Poor storage and movement of foodgrains are a matter of worry for the second consecutive year to the UPA government. Procurement during the current rabi marketing season has already exceeded last year's level.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is bothered about the likely scenario of destruction of procured foodgrains during what is being described as a favourable monsoon, in store.

Union Minister of State K.V. Thomas, after a visit to Punjab, rushed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, complaining that the Railways have failed to move the heap of grain, which has been left to weather the vagaries of nature. Last year, rains played havoc and caused destruction on a major scale. He charged the Railways with dithering in providing rakes.

Also, the government is concerned at the Supreme Court's remark expressing displeasure over its allowing foodgrains to rot when the people went without food because of the twin blows of drought and rains recently. It ordered free distribution rather than allowing foodgrains to go waste. The government did not do that though. This year about 26.9 million tonnes of foodgrains were procured so far. More arrivals are likely over the next fortnight, thanks to the high procurement price offered by the Centre and an additional bonus from State governments.

Even Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, witnessed record procurement, unlike in the past. Storage has become a major problem in these States too.

The Prime Minister convened a meeting of senior officials and directed the Railways to rise to the occasion.

The Food Ministry also proposed to the Prime Minister that a command structure be set up at both the national and State levels to oversee foodgrains movement and for strengthening infrastructure at railheads and rail yards and in FCI godowns. But the Ministry is yet to finalise the draft of the Food Security Bill, caught between the recommendations of the National Advisory Council (NAC), and the Planning Commission and the C. Rangarajan-led committee, which was set up by the Prime Minister.

Informed sources said the bill was being fine-tuned to bridge the differences on issues of legal rights and prices at which foodgrains should be made available to the targeted groups.

While the NAC wants 90 per cent of the BPL covered under the Food Security Act, the Rangarajan committee and the Planning Commission are for a BPL coverage of 75 per cent. The Ministry proposes to scale down the NAC recommendations. The subsidy on food is likely to increase from Rs. 84, 000 crore to Rs. 1.10 lakh crore as and when the legal entitlement to the BPL and above the poverty line (APL) families is granted.

The Hindu, 13 June, 2011, http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/13/stories/2011061355761200.htm


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