Poor may get 25 kg rice/wheat at Rs 3 per kg under new govt

After a job guarantee of 100 days, poor can look forward to a minimum of 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 a kg as a matter of right under a law promised by the Congress, the leading partner in the UPA, which has returned to power.      

The Congress, in its manifesto for the 15th Lok Sabha elections, had pledged that if voted to power it would enact a "Right to Food" law on the lines of the NREGA. This law would guarantee access to sufficient food for all people, particularly the most vulnerable sections of society.      

It also promised that subsidised community kitchens will be set up in all cities for homeless people and migrants with the support of the Central government.     

"The Indian National Congress pledges that every family living below the poverty line either in rural or urban areas will be entitled, by law, to 25 kgs of rice or wheat per month at Rs 3 per kg," the manifesto said.      

At present, the Centre provides 35 kgs of foodgrain (including rice and wheat) per month per family. Wheat is supplied at Rs 4.15 per kg while rice at Rs 5.65 a kg.      

The Centre allocates foodgrain to 4.02 crore BPL families on the basis of the Planning Commission's estimates, but states and union territories have issued BPL cards to 8.13 crore families. 

The offtake of foodgrain under BPL category is nearly 90 per cent of the quantity allocated by the Centre to states. 

The Food Corporation of India has procured over 50 million tonnes of foodgraian in the ongoing marketing season, giving enough room to the new government for fulfiling the promise of subsidised foodgrain.      

Besides providing foodgrain at cheaper rate, the next government is likely to give more credit to farmers at lower interest rates and ensure procurement of agricultural produce from the farmers' doorsteps.      

There could be an increased focus on plantation crops — tea, coffee, rubber, spices, cashew and coconut — and allied sectors like horticulture and fisheries.      

Dairying, aquaculture, fisheries, horticulture and sericulture sectors are likely to get more attention from the new government as the Congress had pledged that these sectors will "receive an additional boost".      

In its manifesto, the Congress had vowed that every small and marginal farmer in the country would have access to bank credit at lower interest rates.      

Highlighting the Rs 70,000-crore farm loan waiver scheme benefiting 3.68 crore families, the Congress Party pledged that it would now extend interest relief to all farmers who repay bank loans on schedule.      

The Congress party said it would take all measures to ensure that farming becomes a profitable occupation.      

"Programmes for agricultural diversification, agri- processing and rural industrialisation will be pursued systematically," the manifesto said.