-The Times of India   The NDA government committed to continue UPA's flagship Food Security Act to ensure that the poor get wheat and rice at subsidized rates. The budgetary allocation has been increased to Rs 1.15 lakh crore in comparison to Rs 92,000 crore during the last financial year. Finance minister Arun Jaitley said, "Even if due to inadequate rainfall there is a marginal decline in agriculture production, stocks in the...

-Deccan Chronicle New Delhi: With a drought-like situation looming large and food prices remaining high, the Union government on Thursday announced various agri-progra-mmes with an outlay of about Rs 7,500 crore to improve irrigation, soil health, research activities besides promising steps to revamp mandis.   Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said that the Centre will provide cheaper foodgrains through ration shops even if there is marginal decline in farm production due to inadequate...

-One World South Asia/ Women's Feature Service This is a success story. The backdrop: a small, dusty village in Madhya Pradesh; the protagonists: oppressed dalit women, who managed to shed their inhibitions and overcome centuries old caste and class baggage to save their children from the curse of hunger and severe malnutrition. Mundalana village in Sonkatch block of Dewas district is home to 800 dalits, out of a total population of 2,600. Owing...

-The Hindu The government on Thursday said it proposed to restructure the Food Corporation of India that procured, stored and distributed foodgrain to identified beneficiaries under the Targeted Public Distribution System. Presenting his budget proposals for the food sector, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government was committed to reducing transportation and distribution losses and enhance the efficacy of the Public Distribution System. Food Security Act Although Mr. Jaitley did not mention the...

-The Business Standard Slew of monetary allocations show no clear shift in strategy Finance Minister Arun Jaitley peppered his long speech with announcements of 28 schemes and projects of Rs 100 crore each. This suggests the National Democratic Alliance had grafted a social and agriculture agenda different from the United Progressive Alliance's.   However, it was a relatively low-cost trick to dazzle and distract in a year when fiscal constraints remain as worrisome. The...