21 lakhs to benefit from food security

SHILLONG, JULY 19: Within six months the “Food Security Ordinance” will be implemented throughout the country even as the Haryana Industries and Commerce Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday said over twenty one lakhs population in Meghalaya would stand to benefit from it.

The “Food Security Ordinance” was promulgated by President Pranab Mukherjee on July 5.

“The scheme will cover 21, 94000 odd citizens and leave approximately seven lakhs other residents from its purview,” Surjewala told reporters after his meeting with state Congress party functionaries in Shillong.

Meghalaya has a population of 29,66,889 as per the 2011 census.

Surjewala said, “The state government will decide whom to omit from the scheme and all these decision will be based as per 2011 census”.

Surjewala also emphasized that the National Food Security legislation will go a long way in eradicating poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

Surjewala, an expert assigned by the Congress party high command has visited the state to enlighten the party functionaries and the state on the legislation.

Stating that the ordinance was “not a welfare measure”, but a “statutory right”, Surjewala said, “If state governments fail to implement the scheme within the stipulated 180 days, then the beneficiaries have every right to claim the food security allowance.”

The ordinance, which will have to be implemented by all state governments within 180 days from July 5, seeks to provide 5 kg of subsidised food grains per person per month to 82 crore out of around 121 crore Indians at a cumulative cost of Rs. 1,24,747 crore by supplying 72.6 million tons of food grains annually.

For the 2.50 crore Antodaya families, 35 kg of food grains per month will be allocated. This includes Rs. 3 per kg of rice, Rs. 2 per kg of wheat, and Re. 1 per kg of millet/coarse grains.

In the state, BPL and APL families will have to pay Rs. 3 per kg of rice from the existing Rs. 6.75 per kg and Rs. 9 per kg, respectively.
For pregnant women and lactating mothers, the ordinance has stipulated that free meal would be provided during pregnancy and six months after child birth through the local anganwadi centre. A maternity benefit of Rs. 6,000 would also be provided in instalments.

For children (6 months to 6 years), free meal will be provided through the local anganwadi centre while for children (6 years to 14 years), one free mid-day meal will be given in government schools.

At the same time, Surjewala said that the entire bill will be footed by the Centre and that there will be no burden to be passed on to the state governments.- By Our Reporter