The final draft of the proposed food security Bill approved by the finance and food ministries has a provision for creation of a national food security commission for implementation of the mega scheme that aims at providing subsidised grains to close to two-third of the country?s population.
The commission, to be headed by a chairperson, member secretary and five other members including civil servants and food experts, will be located in New Delhi. Similar bodies will be set up at the state level also.
As reported by FE last week, the Bill has a provision for food security allowance (cash payment) in case of the failure to provide beneficiaries with subsidised grains due to poor monsoon.
It also envisages creation and maintenance of scientific and storage facilities at the state, district and block levels for ensuring steady flow of grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.
A copy of the Bill reviewed by FE says that for the first time in a social sector programme, the eldest woman in a family, both in priority and general categories, would be treated as head of the household for the purpose of distribution of ration cards.
The Bill has been sent to the law ministry for vetting and the plan is to present it in Parliament during the coming session. ?We expect to present the Bill in Parliament in the coming session after getting it ratified by the law ministry. It would then be referred to a parliamentary standing committee after which it would be presented in both the Houses for passage,? KV Thomas, food minister, said.
An empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on food had approved the Bill last week. It seeks to provide legal entitlement to subsidised grain for more sections of the population, apart from those below the poverty line. With the introduction of the Bill, the government?s annual food subsidy Bill is expected to increase to R94,987 crore from R74,231 crore in 2010-11.
According to the Bill, 75% of the rural households will get subsidised grain, of which 46% would be considered as ?priority? category with each person in these households getting 7 kg grain a month at heavily subsidised prices ? R3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 for wheat and Re 1 for coarse grains. In case of urban centres, out of the 50% of the total households to be covered under the scheme, 28% would get the ?priority? status.
The requirement of grain for the proposed food security cover would be 61 million tonnes (mt). The current procurement for the public distribution system and buffer stocks is around 55 mt.