Few weeks ago, the expert committee on National Food Security Bill headed by Rangarajan submitted its report to Prime Minister. Initially, NFSB was recommended by National Advisory Council (NAC). The government appointed expert committee to review it. Food Security Bill aims at providing food as a basic right of the citizen. It also aims at providing food affordable and to meet the dietary needs of the people. To achieve the aims of food security bill, it adopted food grains on subsidy method. As per the initial draft bill, 90% of the population becomes eligible to get the subsidized food grains. But later it was reduced to 75% of the population, i.e. 90% of rural and 50% of urban population become eligible to get rice, wheat, sugar, etc. at subsidized prices. Below poverty Line (BPL) households should have a monthly entitlement of 35 kgs at Re 1 per kg for millets, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs3 for rice. Above Poverty Line (APL) should get a monthly entitlement of 20 kgs at a price not exceeding 50% of the Minimum Support Prices.
However, Rangarajan committee differs with the NAC recommendation on Food Security and concluded that it may not be feasible to implement the bill in its current form. Three major aspects were the bone of contention, First, production rate and procurement of food grains, as per the report, the food grains required to implement the food security is about 69 million tons but the current expected rate of production will be about 56 million tons. Second, negative impact on market prices and effect on vulnerable sections like middle class families. Third, burden on exchequer and consequences.
Food security is essential for our country to address dietary needs of the population. But, the draft bill deals food security in a narrow view, whereas, it actually has wider scope. Food security has three important elements, food availability, food access and food use. The draft food security bill prominently deals with food access and very little about other two. Food availability includes production, diversifying the food pattern in order to get appropriate nutrient diet, understanding the future needs and planning accordingly, etc. The major concern for India is too much dependency on certain crops and varieties like Rice and wheat, which ultimately resulting in high demand and pressure on those crops. India should plan in such a way that the productions of other food grains like Jowar, Bajra, Finger millet, etc. should be encouraged. Through this not only pressure on the main food grains will decrease, but also helps to increase the nutritional levels of population. Food use, it includes using food resources of the country in a sustainable and optimum manner. For example, India has about 7000 kilometers coastal line, but still, sea food in Indian diet is negligible. Food access means not only providing food grains for subsidised prices but also to meet the consumption demands of the population. Subsidised food is short term strategy; policy makers should also concentrate on long term strategies to meet the consumption demands.
I think, Rangarajan committee has rightly recommended that subsidized food grains shall be given to only BPL families (46% rural and 28% urban population) instead of 75% of the population. However, subsidised food grains and proper distribution alone are not food security. Food security is about production and availability of food grains according to the needs of population. It is unfortunate that Indian think tank is more concerned about populist policies than policies for India.
