-The Economic Times India's GDP growth has almost halved from 9.2% in 2010-11 to 5% in 2012-12. Major problems include a high current account deficit, high fiscal deficit, and lack of bank credit for small and medium enterprises. All three problems can be mitigated substantially by one single measure - reducing excess food stocks. So say Ashok Gulati and Surabhi Jain, chairman and joint director respectively of the Commission for Agricultural...
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What we need is not a food security Bill but a hunger elimination Act -Arvind Virmani
-The Times of India In the decade or so that i was at the Planning Commission, i always had advisory responsibility for the food ministry/public distribution system, among other issues of development policy. It did not take very long to find out that the fundamental problem with the system was about so-called "leakages" abetted by corruption: One soon learnt that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was one of the most...
More »Govt plans tie-up with postal department for Annshree Yojana -Ambika Pandit
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Eager to make an impact on the electorate by expediting enrolments under its flagship cash-for-food programme Annshree Yojana, the Delhi government is exploring the option of tying up with the postal department to speed up opening of Aadhaar-enabled, zero-balance accounts for beneficiaries from economically weaker sections not covered by the public distribution system. A total of 45,000 beneficiaries have been enrolled under the scheme launched in...
More »Why the food security Bill will not boost foodgrain consumption for the poor -Arvind Panagariya
-The Times of India So much has already been written on the food security Bill that there would seem to be no justification for another column on it. Yet, a recent look at some consumption data has convinced me otherwise. How the food security Bill impacts people's lives ultimately depends on the effect it will have on the consumption basket of the beneficiaries. If you believe in serious analysis over flag waving,...
More »Direct Cash transfers to women can transform lacklustre welfare schemes
-The Times of India In banding together to form a vigilante group to tackle the menace of alcoholism, the women of Banauli village in Bihar's Rohtas district have once again highlighted women power. The Durga Vahini isn't afraid to use brooms and sticks to set their abusive husbands straight. The group's activities - which have earned it the support of the local administration - are reminiscent of the Gulabi Gang...
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