Food security bill likely to roll-out by Dec 2012: Thomas

22 Mar 2012 Evaluate

The government will make all attempts to implement the food security bill by December 2012, as per the Food Minister, K V Thomas. The minister has further clarified that the government has enough foodgrains to meet the requirements of the food bill as well as export requirements till 2014.

The Food Security Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December, and is currently being examined by the Parliamentary Standing Committee. It is estimated that the bill will increase the subsidy burden of the government by Rs 88,000 crore this year, which will go upto Rs 1.09 lakh crore with the revision in the 2000 census and 1993-94 poverty line estimates.

The bill will be a taxing affair for the government unless it tries to cut on the subsidies it is providing on fuel. The Finance Minister has stated that efforts are being made to reach a political consensus over the issue but whether all political parties agree to it, remains to be seen.

Another factor that is a cause for worry is that the economy may grow at a subdued pace even in the next fiscal, which will lead to a fall in revenue collections of the government. Additional income will come due to the recent increase in the rates of excise duty and service tax, but the extent shall vary depending on the economic growth.

The food security bill endows a legal right of mandatory supply of foodgrains (at subsidised rates) to 75% of rural population and 50% of urban population. Further every person belonging to ‘priority’ household will be entitled to receive 7 kgs of foodgrains a month and every ‘general’ category person would be entitled to not less than 3 kgs of grains. The bill provides for supply of rice at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg and coarse cereals at Re 1 per kg to ‘priority’ households.

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