"It looks like the aim of Sonia Gandhi-led UPA is to keep people poor and thereby dependent on the Congress. Food Bill : how much will people save? Currently, various states (with the exception of “visionary” States like AP) give rice at Rs 3.50 – Rs 5.50 range to BPL families. Assuming a four-member family gets 15 kg of rice at Rs 3 instead of Rs 5.50, they are saving a whopping 15×2.50 = Rs 37.50 per month. Wheat is sold at Rs 7/kg in AP. Assuming that is the national average – there’s a further saving of 5×5 = Rs 25. A total of Rs 62.50 per month per family (4 members). Other combinations can yield savings upto Rs 90 per month per family (5 members). Is our country in such dire straits that 75 per cent of our rural population and 50 per cent of urban population are thrilled at the prospect of saving about Rs 2 to Rs 3 per day? Is it is not a grave setback that we are actually encouraging them to entitlements like this and giving them false hope that this price will remain low for a long time? The Bill says that these rates cannot be changed for the next 3 years! If the next Government even contemplates increasing the rates by Rs 1, imagine the furore that five-star activists will create. Oh and by the way, these five-star activists have eligibility to become members of the State Food Commissions because one of the eligibility criteria includes “a proven record of work relating to the improvement of the food and nutrition rights of the poor.” The best part of the bill is yet to come! “In case of non-supply of the entitled quantities of foodgrains or meals to entitled persons under Chapter II, such persons shall be entitled to receive such food security allowance from the concerned State Government to be paid to each person in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government.” So there you go – these people will be paid money if they cannot be given foodgrains. And it has not yet been decided how much! Obviously, you can’t give them Rs 60 in lieu of the 15 kg rice and 1 kg wheat they are entitled to, because you will get zilch outside with that money. More importantly, the Central Government will decide how much funds the State Government will get to pay – thereby enabling Rahul Gandhi to go into Opposition-ruled States and say “Your state Government is not spending the money our Central Government is providing.” The next small detail – Rs 1/kg for coarse grains. “The average shelf life of coarse grains is limited, making them unsuitable for long-term storage and distribution under PDS. The inclusion of coarse cereals under PDS cannot be taken up as a national level programme since there is no standard variety of coarse grain. However, initiatives on part of State Governments catering to the needs of specific localities are possible.”"
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:18:52 +0000
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