Concerned over the roll out of UPA II’s flagship legislation, the National Advisory Council chairperson Sonia Gandhi asked the working group, drafting the National Food Security Bill, to be “doubly sure” of its projections so that there is no room for “failure”.
Sources said there were differences of opinion among council members on the presentation made by the working group, headed by Harsh Mander, relating to the count of beneficiaries, the nature of entitlements (whether differential or universal) and the cost involved in implementing the right to food law.
“The NAC chief wants the working group to hold widest possible consultations and firm up the figures before moving ahead,” said sources.
The NAC took stock of the various options prepared by the working group on integrating the goal of inclusive and enhanced public distribution system, child and maternal nutrition; special schemes for destitute and vulnerable groups into the draft bill.
Though there is a general agreement on the number of below poverty line persons (8.1 crore in 2010) as suggested by the Planning Commission, the NAC is aware that merging other welfare schemes like the mid-day meal (MDM) and the integrated child development services (ICDS) with the Act will increase the number of beneficiaries.
As a result, the cost involved in procuring enough foodgrains and providing sufficient funds to implement the law would go up substantially.
The NAC estimated that the current food subsidy bill of around `66,000 crore will go up substantially if the act is rolled out universally in 160 poorest of the poor districts in the country.
Experts said this could be the situation if the government provides 35 kg of grains per BPL family per month at `3 per kg as agreed earlier by the NAC.
“Availability of grains and availability of funds need to be worked out in fine detail before we think of enacting any right to food,” said an NAC member.
Sources said every caution needs to be exercised while drafting the law because once the National Food Security Act is enacted, the beneficiaries would be legally entitled to the quantity of foodgrains mentioned. Any faults in upholding the promise would mean a lot of litigation for the government, they said.
Later during the meeting, Farah Naqvi, convenor of the working group on Communal Violence Bill, updated the NAC members on the progress made in redrafting the law.
The NAC has set up an Advisory Group and constituted a Drafting Committee to develop a draft bill on communal and sectarian violence. Naqvi said submissions were being sought from the public at large on the matter.