Pages

Total Pageviews

Monday, December 19, 2011

UPA Govt's Cabinet Clears Food Security Bill - Dec 18,2011






UPA Govt's  Cabinet on Sunday Dec 18,2011 cleared the ''National Food Security Bill'' that seeks to provide legal entitlement of foodgrain to 75 % of the rural population and up to 50 %of the urban population. 




The Bill seeks to divide the eligible households into two broad categories — priority and general — wherein the “priority” group will comprise of at least 46 per cent of the rural population and 28 % of the urban population.
The “priority” group will be eligible for seven kg of foodgrain per person at highly subsidised rates — Rs 3, 2, 1 per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains respectively — the “general” group will be eligible for at least three kg of foodgrain at half the minimum support price.

The food security proposal, close to Sonia Gandhi’s heart and piloted by the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by her, is being seen as bigger than the rural job guarantee scheme.According to estimates made by the government, the burden is pegged at Rs 94,973 crore a year, Rs 27,973 crore more than the current subsidy bill of Rs 67,000 crore.

                                                                      

Food Security Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution KV Thomas on Thursday Dec 22,2011 introduced in Lok Sabha the National Food Security Bill, which aims to provide subsidised food grain to over 60 per cent of the country's population.The bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet without any discussion on Monday Dec 19,2011.

In rural areas up to 75 per cent of the people will be covered by the Bill while in urban centres, it will cover up to 50 per cent of the populace.
General category would get at least 3 kg of grains at a rate not exceeding 50 per cent of the minimum support price.

The Bill seeks to provide 7 kg of rice and wheat per month per person to priority households at Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg, respectively. Persons under the general households will get at least 3 kg of rice and wheat at 50 per cent of the minimum support price.
s.s.s.s.
The Food Security Bill also promises hot, mid-day meals for children up to 14 years of age and Rs 6,000 for all pregnant and lactating women, all this will now be a legal entitlement.

Cabinet clears ordinance to implement Food Security Bill


s.s.s.s.
s.s.s.s.

The cabinet has pushed through an Ordinance to implement the Food Security Bill that will guarantee that two-thirds of the Indian population will get foodgrain at highly subsidised rates
"The food security ordinance was unanimously approved by the cabinet. It will now go to the Rashtrapathi for his assent," K V Thomas, union minister of state for food and civil supplies, said on July 3,2013

The Ordinance will have to be approved by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha within six months of promulgation.

The Ordinance, which will guarantee 5 kg of rice, wheat and coarse cereals per month per person at a fixed price of Rs 3, 2, 1, respectively, will come into effect after President Pranab Mukherjee signs it. 


The programme would require more than 61 million tonnes of foodgrain and is expected to cost the government about Rs 1,25,000 crore.

Left parties attacked the government for taking the ordinance route saying the UPA-II has shown contempt for Parliament while BJP termed it an "election gimmick" saying Congress was running away from a debate in the House.

Samajwadi Party, a key outside supporter of UPA, also sharply opposed promulgation of the ordinance saying it was undemocratic and the programme would derail the food economy

s.s.s.s.


s.s.s.s.

s.s.s.s.



s.s.s.s.



s.s.s.s.

s.s.s.s.




s.s.s









No comments:

Post a Comment