-The Business Standard Clause empowers both Central and state govts from their obligation to provide subsidised food in the event of war, flood, drought, fire, cyclone or earthquake The government included much-debated 'force majeure' clause in the Food Security Ordinance, despite opposition from civil socieity and a Parliamentary standing committee. However, the clause can now only be invoked if the Central government in consultation with the Planning Commission decides as to whether such...

-The Business Standard The state govt is gearing to launch 30 kg rice at Re 1 per kg to BPL families, which will cost Rs 4,300 cr to the exchequer The new Congress government in Karnataka led by Siddaramaiah is gearing up to launch an ambitious programme of providing 30 kg rice every month to all families below the poverty line (BPL), at a subsidised rate of Re 1 a kg from...

-The Times of India With the state budget all set to be presented on July 12, TOI takes a hard look at the government's cheap rice scheme and its impact on politics and employment. Will cheap rice boil? Let's look at the math. Reducing the price from Rs 3 to Re 1 per kg will help a family save Rs 60 per month. Till now, poor families got rice from the Public Distribution...

-The Business Standard Ruling BJD wants to make the scheme the face of its campaign ahead of upcoming polls Bhubaneswar: When one logs on to the official website of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation and food supply ministry, a large banner of the rice at Re 1 a kg scheme welcomes visitors. The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) wants to make the scheme the face of its campaign ahead of upcoming...

-The Hindustan Times The original intention was laudable but the final product leaves quite a bit to be desired. To make matters worse, the timing of its launch is all wrong, making everyone suspicious about whether the UPA government is really serious about the issue of hunger and food entitlement or is only interested in the votes that a food security law could fetch in the coming general elections. The National Food...