Draft National Food Security Bill

The federal cabinet has approved the draft National Food Security Bill. It seeks to provide subsidized food grains to over half of India's 1.2 billion population. The bill is likely to be presented to parliament in the next few days and would be referred to standing committee. The food security bill promises 75 percent of rural population and 50 percent of urban households, the right to 7 kg food grains per person, at Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Rs.1 per kg for coarse grains to the priority beneficiaries. The general category will be provided at least three kilograms of food grains per person per month at half the minimum selling price.The bill will also provide rations or cooked meals to children under 14 years of age, destitutes including women and persons on the margins of society. It is the pet project of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council and was part of the Congress manifesto for the 2009 general election.The bill provides for cost-sharing to pacify the states, which will implement the law. The states have also objected over the authority to decide on the criteria to identify the beneficiaries.A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism at district, state and national level is also part of the legislation.Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had expressed concern that food subsidy, currently at Rs.63,000 crore ($12 billion), may go up to Rs.1.2 lakh crore ($23 billion) if the bill is implemented. Rising fertilizer prices and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the grains was another concern. Sources said managing the fianances would not be a problem but procurement would have to be improved. It is estimated that against the current procurement levels of 54 millions tons, the requirement may go up to 62 million tons. Government food grain stocks in August 2011 were 61.27 million tons.
Benefit for Women and Children
About 2.25 crore pregnant women and lactating mothers are expected to benefit from the legislation that proposes to give Rs 1,000 per month for six months as maternity benefit. Maternity benefits that are available only in 52 districts will be extended across the country. All this is commendable but there is need for caution since the economy is showing signs of sluggishness. The budget deficit will need to be watched. Finding the money to fund the ambitious scheme would also be no mean task. With procurement of food grains required to rise from the current 54 million tons to 62 million tons, the Union government would be up against a major challenge especially in years of drought.
Aiming to empower women, the Bill also proposes that the ration card will be issued to the eldest female member of the family. The proposed Bill also holds great promises for children. Children in the lower and upper primary classes would be entitled to mid-day meals as per the prescribed nutritional norms.
The federal budget for 2011-12 had provided for Rs 55,586 crore for food subsidy. But while revised estimates are that the food subsidy bill this year will be around Rs 63,000 crore, the new law would require more food grains and a lot more money to implement.
Fears have been expressed that the new Bill, as and when enacted, will fuel both shortages and inflation. The fears are not misplaced because in August this year, the food grain stock with the government was 61.27 million tons, short of what will be required to implement the scheme. The annual procurement of food grains by the government stands at 54 million tonnes and will have to be raised to at least 62 million tons, if the scheme is to be implemented.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had warned that the government should be prepared for two successive years of drought before the scheme is rolled out.
The scheme was also opposed by several states, which apprehend food scarcity and higher food inflation as and when the Bill becomes the law. They had also objected to the discrepancy between the proposed central scheme and the existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAA) under which the poor are entitled to 35 kg rice at Rs 2 per kg. The Centre sought to go round the issue by raising the entitlement of everyone to 35 kg under the new, legal entitlement.
Other View
The proposed law aims to benefit 65 per cent of the population, which makes little sense unless the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, by implication, is admitting that the vast majority, or two-thirds of the people of India, cannot survive without heavily subsidized food. Since that is not the case, it remains inexplicable as to why such a large number of beneficiaries are being targeted. While it makes sense to protect the poorest of the poor from hunger and malnutrition, it is absurd to extend the same benefit to those who can do without heavily subsidized food.
Moreover, there are three related aspects, apart from enhanced and ill-affordable subsidy, which merit comment. First, the demand for food grains will result in a shift in agricultural patterns across the country with farmers focusing entirely on rice and wheat. This is bound to cause a shortfall in pulses and cash crops. To meet that shortage, Government will have to resort to imports which, in turn, will fuel prices. Second, a scheme of this nature can be implemented only if there is a flawless storage and distribution system — since neither exists, implementation is bound to suffer. Third, the main problem with the NAC-conceived cockamamie schemes is that they are premised on the one-size-fits-all logic. There may be States which would rather spend the money on projects that can fetch long-term benefits and sustainable economic security for the poor.

Yet Another Defeat of Shiv Sena

The people of Maharashtra have frustrated the Shiv Sena's attempts yet again. The Shiv Sena had been striving to come to the limelight in politics. At all cinema halls where Shah Rukh Khan's movie My Name is Khan was released, huge crowds turned up to watch the movie. It is strong evidence that people of Mumbai have come to realize that both Bal Thackerey and Udhav Thackerey have lost their mental equilibrium because of continuous defeats. The best reply to their threat is what Sachin Tendulkar had given, followed by Rahul Gandhi and now people of Mumbai.

Bal Thackerey's Politics
The kind of politics indulged in by persons like Bal Thackerey, Udhav Thackeray, and Raj Thackerey has become well-known to people of Maharashtra. They are fed up with that kind of politics. That is why during the last parliamentary elections and later the state assembly elections, people had made them to bite the dust, and thereby gave a clear indication that Bal Thackerey's politics has become outdated as Bal Thackerey has also become old. The people had made them to realize that the masses would not let Maharashtra turn into a den of vagabonds and hoodlums, but Bal Thackerey failed to read the writing on the wall.
What the Shiv Sena did after Sachin Tendulkar and Mukesh Ambani said they are Indians and that Mumbai belongs to all Indians, is before people. People paid no heed to what the Shiv Sena said on the issue and gave it a most befitting reply. Thackerey has gone berserk with that reply because of which he made yet another political move by extending the threat to the Australian cricket team that they would not be allowed to play in Mumbai because of attacks on Indians in that country. The dispute was still on when Shah Rukh Khan made a statement on the non-inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL that he favors Pakistani cricketers to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
This plain talk by Shah Rukh Khan was not liked by Bal Thackerey and his followers who began to make derogatory statements against him. They also extended threats that they would not allow his movie My Name is Khan, to be released in Maharashtra. Yet, not only was the film released in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, and elsewhere in country, but also huge crowds thronged the cinema halls to see the film without any fear. It, infact, is a befitting reply to the unconstitutional activities indulged in by the Shiv Sena and Bal Thackerey.

Sharad Pawar-Bal Thackerey Meeting
A couple of days ago, a large number of people had thronged Rahul Gandhi when he visited Mumbai. It had been made clear that people like Bal Thackerey and his followers have lost their voice in Maharashtra. As for the release of the film, Bal Thackerey had indicated a slight change on his stand, yet lest one calls it the impact of Sharad Pawar-Bal Thackerey meeting or something else, the Shiv Sena again began to extend threats to the film. Afraid of these threats, theatre owners had to stop advance booking and hinted not to screen the film in their halls.
Yet, the people of Mumbai and some organizations came out in support of Shah Rukh Khan and, consequently, the film was released. It is not important that the film was released but more important it is that people thronged cinema halls in large numbers to see the film. These crowds included people from all sections, elderly and children alike. All this makes it clear that the threats extended by the Shiv Sena have lost their sting and gone are the days of their policies of provocation.

Role of Government
It further makes it abundantly clear that should the government adopt a strong stand against mischief mongers and provocateurs, it is not a difficult task to rein them in. The fact is that had the Maharashtra Government adopted a strong stand against the Shiv Sena or Raj Thackereky's MNS, had it not given a long rope to a daily like "The Samna" to spread hatred in the name of journalism and had it conveyed a strong message to the goons and hoodlums that their activities would cost them heavily, things today would not have slipped out of hand.
The successful release of My Name is Khan in the world and in India goes to prove that if Mumbai and Maharashtra were to be saved of jungle raj, people there would have to play a more significant role than the government there. The defeat of the Shiv Sena signals the victory of the courage displayed by the people.

Union Government's Failure To Check Pric

It is more shocking than the rising prices of essential commodities that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says that his government's performance in the matter of price management is much better than that of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. If this is management, the country would want to know what mismanagement is. Such statements by the central authority are like adding insult to injury.

Objectionable and Regrettable Measures
It seems that the central government is still under the illusion that the prices have risen by just a little. It is no surprise that for this very reason the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and its Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar are doing nothing about it. It is not only objectionable but also regrettable that instead of taking measures to bring down the prices, they are busy issuing such statements that would make the common man feel helpless.
Now he is doing the job of scaring people by his statements. Would somebody tell him that his job is not to inform about shortage of essential commodities, but to take concrete steps for their availability? It is unfortunate that Sharad Pawar is unable even to create the impression that he is concerned by the price rise.

Prevailing Situation
He has done so badly as the Agriculture and Food Minister that he should not remain in that post for a minute more. But, the irony is that the Congress party leading the federal government is hesitating even to name him.
This situation prevails when people are coming to the conclusion that Sharad Pawar is more concerned about profiteers than the common man. No matter what kind of claims the federal government makes, if anybody is benefiting from the kindness of Sharad Pawar it is the hoarders and black-marketers.

Curbing Price Hike
It is difficult to disagree with fierce attack Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has launched against him over his irresponsible behavior. After all, why do we need such Agriculture and Food Minister who refuses even to show common sympathy in the situation created because of growing price rise?
It is also the country's misfortune that the opposition is also showing the same kind of uselessness as the central government in the matter of curbing price hike. It seems that like the ruling party, the opposition has also forgotten its duty. Looking at the kind of crisis price rise has created for the common man, the opposition should have taken the ruling party to task, but it is restricted to mere formal criticism.

Rise in Food Grain Prices
The federal government's behavior regarding price rise is indecent because it is making false statements instead of dealing with the situation. It is an utter lie that the benefit of rise in food grain prices has gone to farmers. It is nothing like it. The fact is that the rural population is as troubled by the price rise as the urban population.
The argument of the UPA government that the state governments are responsible for price rise is also not completely right because, had it been so, the conditions in the Congress party-ruled states would have been different. One can understand some rise in prices, but it has taken on monstrous proportions. More atrocious is that the central government is refusing to accept price rise as a serious problem.