Food security not just targeted at the poor, says Raj Babbar

Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar defended the Food Security Bill here today, saying that it will not only benefit those residing under the poverty line but will also ensure that a large percentage of the urban and rural population will have access to nutrition through the scheme.

"The Food Security Bill is not only for the (people of) poverty. It is for the aam aadmi to get wholesome nutrition. It is for 75% of the population which resides in the rural area, as well as the 50% of the population which resides in the urban areas of the country. The combined ratio is 67% of the population, who will benefit from the scheme. I think we are clear in our thought and are giving you the true picture", Babar said here in a press conference today.

Babbar also added that the UPA welfare schemes are solely aiming at bettering the standard of life for the layman in the country.

"We don't think of growth and development as mere schemes. Behind these schemes, we have formed relationships with the country's aam aadmi with the promises that we have made to them via our party's manifesto. We have always maintained that promise. The UPA government is in that pursuit and works towards it wholeheartedly", Babbar said.

Additionally, Babbar said defended the growth under the UPA government saying that the people should not assign credit to any particular political party.

"Don't see this (the growth rate figures) in a political context, that is aiding it to a particular party. It must be actually looked at in the context of the entire country and what the UPA-led government has done for the country since 2004", Babbar said.

Rattling out figures, Babbar said that the number of people under the poverty-line has declined from 40 crore people in 2004-2005 to 26 crore people in 2011-2012, defending the welfare schemes of poverty alleviation of the UPA government's term of 11 years.

The National Food Security Bill 2013 was recently passed as an ordinance by the Union Cabinet. The bill aims to provide 5 Kg of food grains per person per month at a subsidised rate from the State Governments under the targeted public distribution system. It is set to be the largest food welfare scheme in the world.