Question : FOOD SECURITY

(a) whether the Government has worked out any estimate regarding the additional foodgrains and funds required for implementation of the proposed National Food Security Law;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the salient features of the scheme and the sources from which the funds are proposed to be mobilised;

(c) whether proposals/suggestions have been received for the implementation of the proposed law in a phased manner on the pattern of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, in view of the current level of production and procurement;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto alongwith the proposed status of other food based schemes under the proposed Law;

(e) whether there is any variance between the figures of the Union and the State Governments regarding the number of families proposed to be covered under the said scheme; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the remedial steps taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)

(a),(b),(c),(d) ,(e) & (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.329 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 17.08.2010 IN THE LOK SABHA

(a) to (d): Government proposes to enact a National Food Security Act which, inter-alia, envisages entitling every Below Poverty Line (BPL) family in the country to a certain quantity of foodgrains every month at subsidised prices. The foodgrains requirement and the amount the Government is going to spend under the proposed law would depend on several factors which include Economic Cost, Central Issue Prices, number of beneficiaries and scale of issue . Content of the proposed law is presently under consideration of an Empowered Group of Ministers(EGoM).No proposal has been received for implementation of the proposed law in a phased manner on the pattern of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

(e) and (f): Government of India is making allocations to State Governments for 6.52 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, including 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families, based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of Planning Commission and March 2000 population estimates of Registrar-General of India. As on 30.06.2010, State Governments have issued 11.04 crore BPL/AAY ration cards.

An Expert Group set up by the Planning Commission to examine the methodology for Estimation of Poverty has submitted its report. The Ministry of Rural Development are in the process of finalizing methodologies for identification of the rural poor. Planning Commission has set up an Expert Group to recommend methodology for identification of urban poor. Their report is awaited.