Govt may merge various food schemes in Food Security Act

The Centre is examining merging the various food schemes implemented by different ministries as part of an exercise to enact a Food Security Act.

"The ongoing examination of a framework of the proposed law includes aspects of convergence of existing food-based schemes implemented by various ministries," Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Though the reply does not give details of the food schemes the government wishes to merge, it notes that the Centre held consultations with different states and Union Territories on June 10 in this regard and received comments from as many as 17 of them.

The government again discussed with different central ministries concerned on June 11 and July 1, and is awaiting their response, Pawar said.

The move is in step with the UPA government's agenda to enact a National Food Security Act whereby every family below the poverty line would get 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 per kg.

At present, the government provides 35 kg of rice or wheat per month to each below poverty line (BPL) family. Wheat is supplied at Rs 4.15 per kg while rice at Rs 5.65 a kg to over 4 crore BPL families.