States may get more time to implement food security Act

Poor infrastructure in the way of legal entitlement of foodgrain for poor

In line with the Centre's promise to work in close coordination with state governments, the Union government is considering extending the deadline given to states for identification of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act beyond July 5.

This could give much-needed breathing space to state governments to implement the ambitious programme.

Some states have been complaining about the near absence of infrastructure in their regions to implement the programme successfully.

A MATTER OF TIME

• Union food minister expected to take a decision in the next few days, after states raised the issue
• According to the National Food Security Act, 2013, the deadline expires on July 5
• Govt may consult law ministry to get clear view on the matter
• Food Act promises to provide 5 kg of cheap wheat, rice & coarse cereals to identified beneficiaries

Officials said the matter was raised with the Union food minister, who was expected to take a decision in the next few days. "The logical step seems to be extending the deadline as many states are yet to complete the process," an official said.

The food security Act, passed by Parliament last year, promises to provide legal entitlement for cheap grains to almost 67 per cent of the population.

However, for delivery of grains, state governments have to identify the beneficiaries and inform the Centre within a year of enforcement of the Act - July 5, 2014 - so that it can then make arrangements accordingly.

Till date, officials said just around 11 states and Union territories out of the 36 had identified the beneficiaries.

"There is little clarity on what stage the beneficiary identification process is in at the remaining 25 states and Union territories, in the absence of which the rule that mandates completion of the identification process by July 5 needs to re-looked," a senior official said. The food ministry may even consult the law department to address the issue as it will involve making changes in an Act.

The Centre claims that till date, foodgrain has been distributed to less than half of the total states and Union territories - including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra - under the Act.

Some officials said this could also be the reason why the Union finance ministry, in its interim Budget, had not set aside a huge amount for food subsidy.

The 2014-15 interim Budget provisioned just Rs 115,000 crore as food subsidy, of which Rs 88,500 crore was exclusively for the food bill, almost the same as the 2013-14 Budget Estimates of food subsidy pegged at Rs 90,000 crore.