Letters: A flawed food security Bill

Apropos the editorial "Rushing it through" (June 5), the food security Bill still needs to address many important concerns, and do away with some of its conceptual flaws:

First, the Bill does not specify who will fall under the 25 per cent category, which will not qualify for subsidised food grains;

Second, why does the government want to incur cost of transportation of wheat, which is said to be double the amount of cost of procurement, when families who need subsidised food grains in villages can be provided for in the villages itself?

Third, why is the government heavily dependant on the Food Corporation of India for storage and safety of food grains, and does not invite owners of godowns or warehouses to store wheat or rice on rent?

Fourth, farmers (with agricultural land holdings up to one hectare) may lose interest in producing wheat because they will be given wheat at Rs 2 per kg per member per month from the government.

Fifth, why is the government dependant on members of the National Food Commission or the state and district food commissions when the same can be achieved by depending on the sarpanch/patwari and the panchayat?

S C Aggarwal, New Delhi

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