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Justifying the United Progressive Aliance government’s decision to bring the food security bill through an ordinance, Union Food Minister K V Thomas on Thursday said the Centre is confident that it will be ratified in the monsoon session of Parliament commencing on August 5.
In an interview to Rediff.com's Anita Katyal, Thomas said the Centre is looking at other options if the opposition blocks the ordinance on some pretext or the other. He refused to elaborate on the choices being considered by the Centre though the Congress believes it will be difficult for the opposition to vote against a pro-poor programme in an election year.
In case the ordinance does lapse, the most obvious option being talked of in official circles is the possible re-promulgation of the ordinance, which will give the Centre time till the year-end winter session of Parliament to implement the scheme.
Admitting that the implementation of the food security programme is the next big challenge faced by the government after the promulgation of the ordinance, Thomas said this is particularly so because the number of persons eligible to get subsidised foodgrains will now increase from 32 crore to 82 crore.
In the interview to Rediff.com, Thomas said he is now writing to all chief ministers spelling out the issues they need to address regarding the implementation of the food security scheme. A booklet and background material on the food security ordinance are also being despatched to help them in rolling out this mammoth scheme.
The food security programme has been billed as UPA II government’s flagship programme on the same lines as UPA I’s rural job guarantee scheme and the loan waiver for farmers.
With the Congress banking heavily on this programme to refurbish its image and woo the electorate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, its proper implementation has become critical.
The states have, therefore, been cautioned about identifying the beneficiaries according to the broad parameters on “inclusion and exclusion” laid down by the Centre and make adequate arrangements for storage as states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will be getting about 20 to 30 per cent more foodgrains under the new scheme.
The minister said the rules and regulations which are to be drafted pursuant to the promulgation of the ordinance are expected to be ready in a week’s time. As for the identification of the beneficiaries, Thomas said, the states have been asked to revisit their BPL lists on the basis of the guidelines sent by the Centre.
Thomas said now that the food ordinance has been promulgated, the Centre and the states have to seriously address the issue of modernising and strengthening the public distribution scheme as it is well acknowledged that at least 25 to 30 per cent foodgrains is siphoned off.
“Although losses have come down from 2.5 to 0.7 per cent, procurement, transportation and storage are issues which need to be addressed,” said Thomas.
The minister maintained the Centre is, therefore, offering special assistance to the states to set up godowns at the taluka level with a capacity to store foodgrains for three months. This is expected to provide relief to the Food Corporation of India which stores the grains and distributes them directly to the fair price shops. It will also ensure a steady supply of foodgrains in villages.
Thomas said his ministry has also sent out a nine-point programme to the states for strengthening the PDS which includes computerisation, social audit by panchayats and distribution through self help groups run by women.
“Many states like Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have started work and there have been positive results. For instance, the number of bogus ration cards has come down from 22 to 16 crores,” Thomas said, adding that this is a continuing process.
Reaching out to the states, the minister has also assured them that there would be no reduction in the quota of foodgrains currently being drawn by them. Striking an optimistic note, Thomas maintained all state governments are happy with this scheme.
“Nobody has complained about step-motherly treatment,” he added.
Image: A labourer removes dust from paddy at a grain market in Chandigarh (Inset) KV Thomas
Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters