Will benefit 67% of India’s 1.2 billion population.
By R. Chandrasekaran
CHENNAI: The Government of India introduced a food security bill in Indian parliament on Wednesday in what is considered as one of the costliest welfare schemes in the world. The bill, if passed by both the Houses of the Parliament, will give the people the right for food.
After failing to bring in the food security bill in the previous budget session of the Parliament, the government had issued an ordinance last month. The ordinance is required to be approved by Parliament within six weeks to become law. The food bill, introduced by food minister K.V. Thomas, replaces an earlier bill introduced in 2011.
The bill enables the government to supply 5 kg of food grains on a subsidized basis to about 800 million people every month. The cost for providing this is estimated to be Rs.1.24 trillion or roughly $23.9 billion and is touted as one of the biggest welfare schemes in the world.
The bill proposes to give the poor people a kilo of rice at Rs.3, millet at Re.1 and wheat at Rs.3 a kg. The bill is expected to benefit 75 percent of the population residing in rural areas and 50 percent in urban areas. In total, it will benefit 67 percent of the total 1.2 billion people.
The food minister disclosed that the government had already been procuring an average 60.2 million tons of grains during the last four years. Therefore, the government believes that there will not be any difficulty in procuring one million more to manage the 61.2 million tons required under the scheme.
The bill does have political overtures since some of the states are going for Assembly elections later in the year and the ruling coalition headed by the Congress party wants to make sure that the bill is enacted as fast as it can.
In the 2009 Parliamentary elections’ manifesto, the Congress party pledged to bring in the food security bill. But the timing of the introduction of the bill invited criticism from political opponents.
Also, some of the regional political parties are already offering food grains such as rice or wheat for free of cost through the public distribution system. This is evident from the way Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK’s reacted. Its member of parliament A Thambidurai has not only opposed the bill but also felt it is infringing the rights of the states.
However, Thomas clarified, “The bill does not impinge on the rights of states. There is nothing against the federal structure. The bill aims at giving food as a matter of right.”
Other political parties like Janata Dal (United) also expressed concerns on certain issues in the bill, but promised to consider supporting the bill.
After sitting quietly for most part of the term since returning to power in 2009, the speed with which the United Progressive Alliance is trying to get the bill passed in the Parliament lend credence to the opposition parties’ claim that the government introduced the bill with a view to win over votes in the ensuing elections. The government, however, refutes the claim and says the bill will bring down poverty and hunger in India.