FOOD SECURITY BILL

• The Lok Sabha has cleared the National Food Security Bill with near-unanimity. The Bill provides for food subsidy to two-thirds of the population and cost the exchequer Rs 1.24 lakh crore during the current fiscal.

• It will now go to the Rajya Sabha for final ratification before the President gives his ascent.

 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Touted as an election “game-changer”, the Bill will enable crores of eligible families to get rice at Rs 3 per kg and wheat at Rs 2 per kg.
• Only one category of beneficiaries with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month.
• Entitlement of Antyodaya households protected at 35 kg per household per month
• Centre to provide funds to states & UTs in case of short supply of foodgrain from the Centre pool
• The Bill provides immunity against whimsical political masters, as it provides for food security allowance to the beneficiaries if the foodgrain is not supplied to them.
• A special focus has been put on nutritional support to women and children in the Bill. Women will get a Rs 6,000 maternity allowance besides nutritional food.
• Children in the age group of six months to 14 years will be entitled to take home ration or hot cooked food under the prescribed nutritional norms.

 IMPACT ON ECONOMY:

• There will be a push on government spending which will increase current account deficit-not desirable in present situation. There are also concerns that India’s procurement for the scheme could push up world food prices in case of drought & under-procurement.