Food security scheme: More worries for states

The much-awaited announcement in the Union Budget 2009-10 to ensure entitlement of 25 kg rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 per kg to every family living below the poverty line (BPL) in rural and urban areas, has raised more questions than it sought to answer.

The Antyodaya Anna Yojana, under which a BPL family is entitled to 35 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs 2 per kg, is likely to be included in a new scheme under the proposed National Food Security Act.

Now, if the scheme is abolished, the same family will not only get 10 kg less but will also be compelled to pay more for the monthly allotment of 25 kg rice or wheat.

Dilip Ghosh, special secretary of department of panchayat and rural development in West Bengal, says that the government is awaiting some more clarifications from the Centre on this front.

The problem of fixing monthly entitlement of food grains per BPL family at 25 kg creates a tricky situation. While considering the family as a unit consisting of five members, it boils down to 5 kg of food grains per head per month. But under the Antyodaya scheme, the same entitlement goes up to 7 kg per head per month.

Under the Annapurna Yojana, another centrally-sponsored scheme targeting senior citizens of 65 years who are eligible for old-age pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme but are not getting the pension, are given 10 kg of free food grains per person per month.

While deliberating on various Right to Food-related cases, the Supreme Court has already indicated that 35 kg of food grains per month per family should be made the base for creating such food security.

Once the Food Security Act comes into effect, many state governments will have to refashion their respective food security measures, because some states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have introduced schemes of rice to poor families (target number varies from state to state). For example, Tamil Nadu gives 16-20 kg rice per month at Re 1 per kg, while Chhattisgarh provides 35 kg rice. An official of the Chhattisgarh government feels that the states might have to supplement the additional 10 kg of food grains without cutting down on the present entitlement.