After ordinance, Delhi first to announce food security scheme

The state will launch food security on August 20, birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi celebrated as Sadbhawna Diwas

The Delhi government has become the first in India to announce it would launch the food security programme, as cleared by the Union Cabinet in the form of  an ordinance last week.

The city government would launch the programme on August 20, birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, celebrated as Sadbhawna Diwas (‘Solidarity Day’). Officials said the union territory was working to prepare all its machinery to implement the various provisions of the National Food Security Ordinance for which the department of food has started amending rules and guidelines.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit met Union food minister K V Thomas in this regard on Monday.

Officials said Dikshit also met Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to discuss the Bill. After Delhi, Karnataka is expected to be next to implement the ordinance.

Interestingly, all the three states are presently ruled by the Congress party.

Delhi is slated to go for assembly polls later this year.

The Union Cabinet last week resorted to the ordinance route to introduce food security for 67 per cent of population in the country.

The ordinance will cover up to 75 per cent of the rural population and up to 50 per cent of the urban population to give them uniform entitlement of 5 kg food grains per month at highly subsidized prices of Rs. 3, Rs. 2, Rs 1 per kg. for rice, wheat, coarse grains respectively . Overall, it will entitle about two thirds of India's 1.2 billion population to subsidised foodgrains under the targeted public distribution system.

An ordinance has to be approved by Parliament within six months of its promulgation. Otherwise, it lapses.