Govt opposes Food Security Bill provisions
The Delhi government has opposed certain provisions of the National Food Security Bill draft saying the proposed universalisation of foodgrain entitlements to majority of the population would be very “difficult to implement”.
In a letter to Union food minister K.V. Thomas, the Delhi government said corruption was rampant in the current public distribution system, and that desired results would not be achieved if no structural changes were made in the distribution mechanism.
“The idea of universalisation of food grain entitlements to majority of population will be very difficult to implement. We have reservations on certain provisions of the Bill,” top Delhi government sources said. The Food Security Bill seeks to provide a legal entitlement to subsidised foodgrain to 75 per cent of the country’s rural population and 50 per cent of urban India.
The National Advisory Council (NAC), headed by Sonia Gandhi, had recommended to the government to grant legal entitlement of subsidised foodgrain to 75 per cent of population covering both “priority” and “general” households.
The city government said it preferred cash entitlements against giving foodgrain to Below Poverty Line families and other beneficiaries in urban areas while contending that foodgrain could be provided to the needy families in rural areas.
The letter has been written by Delhi food and civil supplies minister Harun Yusuf.
Meanwhile, with just a month left for the beginning of nursery admissions, Delhi education minister Arvinder Singh Lovely indicated on Monday that there will be almost no change in guidelines for enrolment issued last year.
“The guidelines will almost remain same as last year,” Lovely said replying to a question. He said the guidelines are likely to be issued next month and the admission process will start in January.
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