Food Security Bill is old wine in new bottle

11th September, 2013 | www.niticentral.com

Lal Bahadur Shastri ushered India into the Green Revolution; subsequent Congress Governments frittered away the opportunity to rapidly grow farm output via productivity enhancement and technology upgradation. 67 years after independence, mostly under the one-family Congress rule, and tall claims to eradicate poverty election after election, Indians are still hungry and malnutrition is rampant. Inspired by Shastri, the Vajpayee-led NDA doubled the monthly allocation of food grains to BPL families to 20 kg and introduced Antyodaya Anna Yojana providing 25 kg food grains to extremely poor families under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). This was increased to 35 kg by 2002. The BJP Government in Chattisgarh addresses nutrition holistically and provides 2 kg gram at Rs 5 per kg, 2 kg dal at Rs 10 per kg, 1.3 kg sugar and 2 kg iodised salt free. We have introduced several transformative reforms leveraging technology, curbing corruption (social audits, vigilance committees at all levels making all records public) and empowering local bodies (gram panchayats, cooperative societies, woman SHGs etc.) for distribution. A Supreme Court Bench remarked Gujarat and Chhattisgarhs computerised PDS can serve as a model for all and asked the Centre why it cannot be emulated in other States. BJPs stand The BJP wants genuine food security for every citizen of the nation. The current monthly allotment of grain will continue to keep the poor deprived, hungry and malnourished. The Food Subsidy Bill (FSB) only replicates the existing entitlements without any increment whatsoever. This Government seeks to tout this as a game-changing idea. It is, in fact, only a name-changing gimmick! Surely the BJP will not oppose continuing to provide relief to the needy, as it already exists. Hence we support the bill, while reiterating that the government should have enhanced the existing nutrition entitlement, targeted the benefits to the poor, offered innovative ideas to improve farm productivity, ensured availability of power and water and made food grains, fruits, vegetables, milk and other essentials available to the people at affordable prices. While the FSB makes token references to these, it neither provides any funds nor outlines a timeframe. Congress believes in Acts, not in action! No new beneficiaries and reduced food grain allocation. Under the FSB, the beneficiaries have actually reduced from 18 crore households enjoying benefits under TPDS as per government data. Even the grain allocated under FSB (549 lakh tons) is less than the grains already allocated under TPDS (563.7 lakh tons). No additional calories The aims and objects of the FSB talk about raising the level of nutrition and standard of living of people. However, there is not even one incremental calorie or enhancement in nutrition above
Article by Piyush Goyal on www.niticentral.com

existing schemes. The FSB guarantees barely 500 calories a day, significantly less than the requirement of 2500 calories prescribed by National Institute of Nutrition. Insignificant increase in financial outlay The Food Minister stated in Parliament on August 23: Even if there is no FSB, our subsidy will go to Rs 113,000 crore. Now when the FSB is implemented, which includes many schemes like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and other schemes for women and children, all these things together, the subsidy will come to about Rs 125,000 crore. Clearly, the Congress is attempting to hoodwink the poor under the garb of food security by this additional spending of Rs 12,000 crores which is an abysmal 40 paisa per day per beneficiary. Does the Congress believe the people are fools and hope to win an election piggybacking on these falsehoods? The way ahead The Government needs to consider ways to fix this broken system, instead of serving us old wine in a new bottle. First, decentralise the procurement & distribution process to make it cost effective and empower local people as we did in Chhattisgarh. Second, Government should not abdicate its responsibility (under force majeure) to provide security in the event of natural calamities, when it is most required. Third, instead of subsidising cereals alone, it must provide a wholesome diet including pulses, sugar, salt, milk and oil. Fourth, follow the Gujarat model to have separate feeder lines and provide adequate low-cost power to the farmers. Fifth, encourage drip irrigation to expand irrigated area and increase farm output. Finally, invest in technology enabled systems for better targeting and build infrastructure for storage and distribution, to minimise wastage. This Congress-led UPA Government has failed the nation; people are waiting for a visionary leader with a proven track record to set things right.

Article by Piyush Goyal on www.niticentral.com