NAC to meet again on July 1, to take up food Security Bill

The reconstructed National Advisory Council (NAC), headed by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, will consider the food security Bill as its first priority when it meets again next month.

At its first meeting held here today, Gandhi’s team decided to meet again on July 1 to discuss the Bill and finalise its recommendations.

NAC has also decided to revisit the Communal Violence (prevention) Bill, which has been lying with the UPA government for the past two years. The Standing Committee on Home Affairs has given its recommendations but the Manmohan Singh government has not pushed for its passage in the Parliament.

There is, however, a debate among the political parties over certain provisions in the Bill, which was a poll promise of the Congress in 2004.

In her inaugural address to the meeting today, Gandhi emphasised that the advisory body had to mainly take up issues close to aam aadmi and the underprivileged people.

All 14 members of the committee were given chance to speak and everyone deliberated on their own choice of issues in the priority list.

The meeting continued for almost three hours followed by another meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The government has been keen to bring the food security Bill during the monsoon session of Parliament.

Although the draft has been prepared a few weeks ago, Congress managers in the UPA government were waiting for the formation of the NAC and get the bill vetted through Gandhi’s committee.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appointed the 14-member NAC early this month after consulting Gandhi. Apart from the UPA chairperson, four members of the previous NAC — Jean Dreze, Aruna Roy, N C Saxena and A K Shiva Kumar — have been re-nominated along with 10 new faces.

NAC is likely to overhaul the current draft of the food security Bill as many members of the committee feels it is inadequate and should also take into account the nutrition factor.

“The Above Poverty Line (APL) population should also come under this scheme. The APL population can be given foodgrain at different quantities.

The top 25 per cent may not be included but out of the rest 75 per cent, 40 per cent can be given can be given 25 kilos and 35 per cent can be given 15 kilos of subsidised foodgrains under the FSB.

The government must also ensure proper nutrition is provided to the poor families, Saxena told Business Standard.