Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Dec 22: Food Security Bill, which had been trumpeted by Congress party across the country as ‘game-changer’ of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is unlikely to be implemented in the Jammu and Kashmir State soon.
Interestingly, the present National Food Security Act, 2013, if extended to the State would deprive nearly 40 lac souls, which comprised about 32 per cent of the population from subsidized ration.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR, “perturbed over the implications of the implementation of the Central Act in the State, political leadership of Congress and National Conference have jointly resolved to scuttle the implementation of the Act”.
“In view of the forthcoming Parliamentary and Assembly elections slated to take place next year, there is little possibility of the Act being implemented in the State”, sources asserted.
As per the National Food Security Act, 2013 promulgated by the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, only 75 per cent of population of the rural areas and 50 per cent of urban population is to be covered and provided subsidized ration. The eligible rationees shall be provided food grains at the scale of 5 Kgs per soul per month, while as out of the same the rationees under Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) Schemes shall be provided food grains at the scale of 35 Kgs per family per month.
According to statistics available, as per 2011 Census, the total rural population is nearly 91 lac and urban population is 34 lacs.
“Therefore, as per the provisions of the Ordinance, only 68.51 lac in rural areas and 17 lac in urban areas totalling about 86 lacs population will be covered for subsidized food grains. Thus, only 68 per cent of the population shall be covered under the National Food Security Ordinance and there would be no subsidized ration for nearly 40 lac souls, which comprise 32 per cent of the population”, official sources remarked.
Peeved over the state of affairs, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister, Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan had also urged the Central Government for coverage of 100 per cent of rural population and 95 per cent of urban population instead of 75 per cent and 50 per cent respectively as per the Act. He had also urged the Central Government to release 7 Kgs of food grains per soul instead of the proposed 5 Kgs.
Commenting on the status of same, Mr Ramzan told EXCELSIOR, “we have urged the Centre for coverage of 100 per cent rural and 95 per cent of the urban population as implementation in the present form would deprive nearly 40 lac souls of the State from getting subsidized grains”, adding, “even while the draft for Food Security Bill was being prepared by the Government of India, the State Cabinet had apprised the Centre of its reservations on the Act and demanded full coverage of the State”.
“Presently, the State Government covers 99 lacs population as per the projected population of the year 2000. The Government of India allocates 64,000 Mts of food grains for the total projected population of 2000 at the said scale of 35 Kgs per family per month”, he added
The Minister said, “though it is difficult to implement the Act in its present form, the CAPD Department has been instructed to conduct survey at ground level to assess the exact impact of the Central Scheme”.
Commissioner/Secretary CAPD, Mohammad Abbas Dar said, “as of now we are providing subsidized food grains as per the 2000 census. There has neither been any reduction nor any increase in the quota being provided by the Government of India”.
“Centre has provided all States in the country 365 days to implement the Food Security Act, 2013 in their territory and we are also doing exercise to assess the impact of the Act, if implemented in the State”, he said adding, “presently, we are providing subsidized food on the basis of 2000 census and not even 2011 census as is being demanded by several States in the country including Jammu and Kashmir”. The field officials of the Department have been instructed to conduct survey across the State to assess the persons eligible to be covered under the proposed Legislation.
It is pertinent to mention here that several senior leaders of Congress party including Vice-President PCC (I), Rahul Gandhi and Jammu and Kashmir in charge, Ambika Soni had pitched for implementation of Food Security Act during their visits to the State. However, the State Government had expressed its reservations over the implementation of the Act in its present form.
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