Food Bill doesn't address calorie or nutritional issues: Gujarat

State govt says the ordinance will lead to lower entitlement of foodgrains from the current 35 kg to 25 kg

The Gujarat government has alleged that the Centre's National Food Security Ordinance (NFSO), which awaits Parliament approval is fraught with inconsistencies and will neither fulfill the nutritional needs nor will it supplement hunger. Incidentally, this is the issue which Chief Minister Narendra Modi raised in his speech on Independence Day.

 

In a statement issued today, the state government has alleged that in the NFSO, the central government will determine the number of beneficiaries and states will only be allowed to identify them, which itself will lead to excusion of many people.

The government also alleged that Centre's NFSO will lead to lower entitlement of foodgrains from the current 35 kilograms per month to 25 kg and will not provide basic nutrition of a child.

 

"The distribution of 5 kg food grains per month per person implies the supply of only 165 gm per person per day. Individuals involved in labour intensive activities require at least 2,500 calories per day. The entitled 165 gm grains would provide only 500 calories per day which is hardly 20 per cent of one’s daily calorie requirements. Even in the Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme, school going children are entitled to about 180 gm of food grain," the statement said. 

 

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh identifying  wherein he has raised these points and has also alleged that the Centre does not want to take the responsibility of distributing foodgrains during floods, droughts or natural calamities as mentioned in the NFSO, but instead leave it to the states to do that.

 

The statement also said that Gujarat's PDS model is far more advanced and does not exlcude any beneficiary.