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Not much help from Centre, states struggle on food security
Sarbjit Dhaliwal/TNS

Chandigarh, October 2
With the Central Government issuing numerous instructions with regard to the implementation of the National Food Security Programme under the provisions of the National Food Security Act, it will not be an easy task for the states to handle.

In fact, the Centre, after taking the credit of enacting the welfare law, has put the ball in the court of the states to implement it without extending any logistical support and without making any firm commitment to give fiscal help to meet the overhead cost.

In case of any failure to implement it or deficiency in delivery system, the state government officials concerned would have to face the legal consequences.

In ordinance, there was a provision to implement the programme in six months. However, under the Act, it is to be implemented in 365 days.

Speaking on the concluding day of the two-day conference of food officials and food ministers of all the states held in New Delhi yesterday to implement the food programme, a representative of the Uttar Pradesh Government said the Act could not implemented by putting its 18-page draft on the Central Government’s website. The Centre must offer fiscal help to implement it.

At the conference, the Congress-ruled states praised the Congress leadership, especially Sonia Gandhi for enacting such a law, whereas other states took potshots on the Centre for putting the entire responsibility on the states to implement it.

The Centre has instructed states to set up criteria to identify the beneficiaries to provide wheat under the programme. Earlier, there was a standard format to identify BPL families and the poorest of the poor. However, as more than 50 per cent population in Punjab will be covered under the National Food Security Programme, the state government would have to devise its own formula to identify the beneficiaries. Likewise, other states will have to follow suit.

On the basis of the National Sample Survey (NSS), the Centre has given an overall figure of population to each state to be covered under the programme. However, it has left to the states concerned to identify the beneficiaries. The Centre has told Punjab that it would provide wheat to 141.45 lakh people at Rs 2 per kg in the state. The state government will have to devise such a formula that the number of population given by the Centre could be covered under it. It would be a politically risky task. “The decision regarding inclusion and exclusion of beneficiaries will not be easy because everyone would like to have wheat at Rs 2 per kg”, said an official.

Fresh ration cards with a female member showing the head of family will have to be issued to the families to be covered under this programme. The Centre has told states that the decision to show female as head of the family has been taken as step in the direction of women empowerment.

There is no uniformity in the country as far as issuance of the ration cards is concerned. Sources said at the conference Food Minister of the West Bengal informed that in his state the ration card is issued to an individual and not to the family. How will it be possible to show the female member as head in the ration card in such a situation?

As the wheat is to be delivered at the doorstep of depot holder, who will pay the transportation cost? Punjab has sought Rs 1.50 per kg, including commission and transportation cost, from the Centre. However, there is no firm commitment from the Centre in this regard.

Besides setting up the committees for the programme implementation and to redress the grievances at district level, the Centre has told states to set up an independent commission in each state to hear the complaints of beneficiaries. Vigilance committees are also to be set up. Entire distribution system needs to be computerised. There should be designated officials of the Food and Supplies Department entrusted with the task of implementing the programme. In the case of a litigation, such officials will have to face the law.

Ball in states’ court

The Centre has put the ball in the court of the states to implement the welfare law.

No logistical support has been extended to the states.

Also, there is no firm commitment to give fiscal help to meet the overhead cost with regard to the implementing of law.

In case of any failure to implement it or deficiency in delivery system, the state government officials concerned would have to face the legal consequences.