This article documents and then examines the various benefits that, it is claimed, will flow from linking the Unique Identity number with the public distribution system and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. It filters the unfounded claims, which arise from a poor understanding of how the PDS and NREGS function, from the genuine ones. On the latter, there are several demanding conditions that need to be met in order...
More »SEARCH RESULT
Govt hopes to introduce food bill in Budget session: PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government is trying to introduce the proposed National Food Security Bill that seeks to provide a legal guarantee for cheaper foodgrains to the poor, in the Budget session of Parliament. "...we hope to bring to this session of Parliament the National Food Security Bill, which would give the people the right to food as the constitutional right," Singh told Rajya Sabha while replying...
More »NAC undermined by Praful Bidwai
By stubbornly overruling the National Advisory Council, the government risks defeating its purpose as a body that speaks for the poor and the disadvantaged. HAS the Manmohan Singh government begun to regard the National Advisory Council (NAC) as an adversary who should be undermined? Going by their exchanges on key issues such as food security, wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), and the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes...
More »Food subsidy bill to rise by 27 p.c. this year
The country’s food subsidy bill is expected to jump by 27 per cent to Rs 74,231 crore in the 2010—11 fiscal, the Lok Sabha was told today. This is due to a rise in support price and higher procurement and distribution of foodgrains via ratio shops. Last year, the government’s food subsidy bill stood at Rs 58,242.45 crore. “The amount allocated for food subsidy during 2010—11 is Rs 59,354.56 crore...Based on the actual...
More »Govt mulls law to curb food wastage at weddings
Terming the food wastage at weddings and social gatherings as “criminal”, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas today said the government could bring a new law in this regard and also launch an awareness campaign to curb this. The minister said although the government has not conducted any study to determine the level of wastage of food at such functions like marriage events, there are reports that wastage is...
More »