Two weeks after the food ministry held detailed discussions on revamping the Public Distribution System (PDS), the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA-chairperson Sonia Gandhi would meet on Tuesday to deliberate on the same issue.
The meeting assumes significance as the NAC, till now, has been largely discussing universalisation of PDS under the proposer national food security bill?the council later cleared a stripped down version of the new proposed bill which will now include 200 poorest districts.
The council?s role in formulation of major policy decisions also make the meeting significant.
?In order to have a better insight into the reforms undertaken in the area of PDS, the working group of the NAC on National Food Security Bill would meet tomorrow,? sources told FE.
Social activist Harsh Mander who is chairing the working group of NAC on Food Security Bill besides, NAC members such as former rural development secretary NC Saxena, renowned agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, economist Jean Dreze and other key members of NAC would be participating in the deliberation.
The NAC meeting where food ministry officials are expected to deliberate on the issues such as reform in ration shops, use of technology in PDS reforms, reforms in procurement, transportation and storage of food grains etc.
In a recent conference of food secretaries seminar organised by the food ministry the Prime Minister?s chief economic advisor, C Rangarajan had expressed reservation on universalisation of PDS because of inadequate foodgrain production and procurement. Those who are in favour of universalisation of PDS feel that the distinction between BPL and APL is very thin and therefore we should cover all households?,? Ranjarajan had said.
However, he noted that despite the desirability of such an arrangement, it is a ?impossible task? given the present level of production and procurement of foodgrain.
Although officially agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had not express his reservation against Food Security Bill openly, he had stated during the food secretaries meet that at present the government through FCI procures close to 30% of the total rice and wheat production in the country. ?We can not go beyond the current level procurement as any increase in procurement would result in increase in prices,? Pawar had stated.
Similar to NAC agenda, the food secretaries meet had agreed upon to strengthen the existing PDS through various measures such as issuance of smart cards to beneficiaries, allowing fair price shops to sell non-PDS items.