The Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) --targeted towards the poorest of the poor-- which was launched by the NDA government in December 2000, is likely to be retained in the final version of the bill. A standing committee of Parliament on Food Security Bill, which recently submitted its recommendations to the Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, had instead suggested that the Bill subsume the AAY programme and distribute a uniform quantity of 5 kilograms of foodgrains per person at a flat rate of Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 1 per kg for coarse cereals.
However, all other categories are likely to be clubbed and there would not be a separate below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) distinctions so far as the bill is concerned.
According to a senior food ministry official, according to the new proposal, which has the backing of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, almost 90% of entire population in 13 poor states including the seven north-eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir will be covered under the Food Bill.
Apart, from this 75% of entire population in 250 backward districts of the country is also expected to be part of the Bill. The standing committee had suggested that the Bill cover, 75% of the rural population and 50% of urban population in all states.
Though, the Committee did not give any firm number on the total number of people that will form part of the food bill, rough estimates said that around 67-68% of the population will get covered under the Bill, it its suggestions were accepted.
The food security bill presented in Parliament last year had pegged the coverage to 64% of India's population.
“The coverage of people under the Food Security Bill is definitely going to be more than what was suggested earrlier,” food minister K V Thomas told Business Standard. The government is also expected to absorb all incidental charges levied on distribution of the cheap grains instead of passing it on to the beneficiaries.
“In the earlier, draft, the cost of transportation, storage etc was added on to the price at which foodgrains were sold to the final beneficiaries (Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 1 per kg for coarse cereals). However, now the government is of the opinion that incidental charges should not be levied on final beneficiaries and instead absorbed by the government,” another official said.
To fast-track the implementation of the Food Bill, the ministry has also called a high-level meeting of state food ministers and secretaries on February 13. “This would be the first political consultation on the Food Security Bill between the Central government and states,” the official said. The meeting is expected to deliberate on the measures states need to take to operationalise the Food Security Bill.
Food bill likely to include more people than earlier estimates
AAY not likely to be disbanded
No separate categories of APL and BPL
Govt to absorb cost of transportation & storage of grains
Standing committee of Parliament had suggested covering 75% of rural population and 50% of urban population under Food Bill
Govt to hold Consultation with states on the Bill On Feb 13
Bill likely to come up in budget session of Parliament