Within days of taking over the reins of the National Advisory Council (NAC), Congress President Sonia Gandhi has stepped in to make Food Security Bill more effective for the poor.
Top sources in the Congress party suggest she has already conveyed to government managers that the Food Security Bill provide 35 kg of foodgrain to families below the poverty line (BPL) per month instead of the 25 kg proposed earlier. She is also in favour of including the Above Poverty Line category in the ambit of the landmark legislation.
After Gandhi’s missive to the party, a meeting has been convened by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday to discuss the issue and make necessary changes in the draft Bill before the Cabinet takes it up this week for approval.
Gandhi stepped in after the draft Bill faced widespread criticism for narrowing the scope of the legislation and drifting away from firm commitments.
The Congress high command also faces pressure as states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are already providing 35 kg of food grains to BPL families.
The proposed Bill will be approved soon and uploaded on a website for public review. The Bill will also be sent to Gandhi-led NAC for suggestions and then placed in Parliament.
The Congress manifesto for 2009 elections had promised to enact “a right to food law that guarantees access to sufficient food for all people, particularly the most vulnerable sections of society. The party pledges that every BPL family either in rural or urban areas will be entitled, by law, to 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 per kg.” It also promised subsidised community kitchens for homeless people and migrants.
The draft food Bill also remains non-committal about maintaining the Rs 3 price level. It indicates that the government may changes prices of the subsidised food grain, if required.
The Empowered Group of Ministers on Food Security Bill, headed by Pranab Mukherjee has also delinked the issue of providing sufficient nutrition from the proposed legislation. A section of the government also wanted to incorporate some other social security aspects and make it a umbrella legislation for social sector. But, the finance ministry had also turned down the suggestions citing financial crunch.
