VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI-91-9422108846

New Food Security Bill likely to increase food rate by 30% but may cut 35% monthly allocation of more than 32 million poor families under existing Antyodaya scheme-VJAS

NAGPUR-8th Jul 2009,

** "SCHEME FOR POOR WITHOUT ANY BUDGETARY PROVISION IS MOCKERY OF POORS'

The government announcement on Monday that it will soon introduce a Bill to enact a Food Security law that will provide 25 kg of rice and/or wheat at Rs 3 to each family below the poverty line is likely increase food rate by 30% and may cut 35% monthly allocation of more than 32 million poor families under existing Antyodaya scheme if proposed bill for food security is passed in the parliament as per announcement ,VJAS expressed it's fear in letter to union PDS minister sharad pawar.

Afetr Hon,ble President Pratibha Patil had, on June 4, said a National Food Security Act would be formulated whereby each BPL family would be entitled by law to get 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 a kg, a promise made by the Congress before general elections 2009 ,It was expected that Govt. will start new scheme to poor as per prez. speech but while presenting the Union Budget 2009-10, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said, with out giving any fund as this scheme needs more than Rs.50,000 crore allocation that the Bill will soon be introduced after consultation with different stakeholders.and it was told that so called draft Food Security Bill will be put up on the website of the ministry of food and public distribution for public debate on this issue.
It's mare time consuming as BPL list is ready and at present, the Centre is providing 35 kg of rice or wheat per month to each BPL family. Wheat is supplied at Rs 4.15 per kg while rice at Rs 5.65 a kg to over four crore families living below the poverty line.now if new food security bill is likely to reduce the monthly allocation by 10 k.g. and all all poorest of poor under existing BPL list are also likely to pay @ of Rs.3 kg in place of Rs.2 kg hence new food security bill may turn in food insecurity bill ,VJAS leader kishore tiwari added.

The Centre has enough foodgrain in its buffer stock to implement the control order 2001 as per apex court order in right to food petition of h.d.dua but till date state has failed to adress serious issue of poverty hunger when there is the bumper foodgrain output and higher minimum support prices and the government has procured a record of over 250 lakh tonnes of wheat and over 300 lakh tonnes of rice till July 3 this marketing season.

VJAS has asked union PDS minister sharad pawar to take out some time from his busy schedules of cricket association elections to clear basic doubts about proposed New Food Security Bill , VJAS urged.

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