NAC recommends food security net for 75% population

New Delhi, Oct 23 (PTI) The National Advisory Council,
headed by Sonia Gandhi, Saturday recommended to the Indian
government to grant differential legal entitlement of
foodgrains to nearly 800 million people through a reformed PDS
network from the next financial year.
The NAC also decided to set aside the BPL criteria and
suggested two broad categories -- priority and general --
eligible for legal foodgrain entitlement under the proposed
food security law.
As per the recommendations, those under the 'priority'
category will have a monthly entitlement of Rs 35 kg
foodgrains at a subsidised price of Re. one per kg for
millets, Rs two per kg for wheat and Rs three per kg for rice.
The 'general' category households will have a legal
monthly entitlement of 20 kg of foodgrains at a price not
exceeding 50 per cent of the Minimum Support Price.
The recommendations were finalised at the sixth meeting
of the Council chaired by Gandhi here Saturday.
"We are obviating the need to look at the BPL data.
Starting from the top we have decided to knock off 15 per cent
of the most affluent section from the rural areas and 60 per
cent from the urban areas and including the rest under the
food security net," Narendra Jadhav, Member of the NAC told a
press conference here.
He said that the NAC has recommended implementation of
the first phase of food security law from the beginning of
next financial year and plan for coverage of the entire
country by 2014.
Jadhav said the first phase of the food security law may
cost the exchequer an additional Rs 15,137 crore in food
subsidies. After the implementation of the final phase, the
additional cost would be Rs 23,231 crore. The government doles
out food subsidies worth Rs 56,700 crore every year.
The NAC recommendations are likely to be considered by
the Union Cabinet and then moved in the form of a National
Food Security Bill in Parliament.
Other important components of the food security bill
recommended by the NAC include legal entitlements for child
and maternal nutrition, as well as for community kitchens and
programmes for feeding the destitute and vulnerable groups.
The NAC has also recommended measures for revitalising
agriculture, diversifying the commodities available under PDS,
ensuring universal access to safe water and proper sanitation.
It has also suggested universalising primary healthcare,
extending nutrition and health support to adolescent girls,
strengthening the school health programme, the programme for
Vitamin A, iodine and iron supplementation and the national
programme for creches.
The NAC has also suggested complete overhaul of the PDS
and is examining proposals for reforms in the network. PTI