Centre, states head for conflict
The Centre and states appear headed for confrontation on the issue of higher foodgrain allocation under Public Distribution System (PDS). A number of chief ministers, including of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal, have sought foodgrain allocation based on 2011 Census to cover higher number of below poverty line (BPL) families.
The Centre, however, wants to wait for the completion of ongoing Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), which will help in arriving at new BPL list, to decide on PDS quota for the states. However, the SECC, which has already missed its deadline of December 2011 for completion, appears headed for much longer delays, as the progress is too slow in many states, while Uttar Pradesh is yet to begin the exercise.
Chhatisgarh chief minister Raman Singh has asked the Union minister of state for consumer affairs and public distribution K.V. Thomas that the PDS quota for the state be enhanced in a manner that 34 lakh BPL families could get the subsidised food in place of the existing 24 lakhs, sources said. Mr Singh has demanded that the state’s PDS quota should be on the basis on the 2011 Census unlike the current practice based on 2000 Census.
The Orissa and West Bengal governments have also sought similar demands from the Centre, added the sources. Though the food ministry had proposed to release additional 17 million tonnes of wheat to the states to comply with the 2011 Census, the proposal apparently did not find favour for the fear that the food subsidy would further go up.
“It appears that we will have to wait for the completion of the SECC to know the BPL lists for the states and after that only there could be a revision in the foodgrains quota for the states,” said a senior official in the Food ministry.
Post new comment