The Bill envisages distributing highly subsidised rice and wheat to almost two-thirds of India’s population. In terms of its sheer size, this would perhaps be the biggest programme ever to distribute subsidised foodgrains to citizens of any country. And given this, it is more likely to have consequences, which the government of the day is either not thinking about or is simply not bothered about. The Bill is estimated to cost Rs.6,82,163 crore over three years. This would be an additional burden on the country, already beleaguered with a falling rupee. At present, India spends about 0.9 per cent of GDP on food subsidies, which, after the NFSB, will rise to a little less than 1.25 per cent. However, this move by UPA-II can only be termed as another classic example of vote bank politics.
Vivek George,Mavelikara
Apart from extending the session of Parliament, the government must also think of steps such as taking the Opposition into confidence and then holding debate and discussion in all sincerity. I hope political parties are listening to the voices of millions who are waiting for the historic National Food Security Bill to be passed in this session.
Nityanand Jha,Kanpur
There is no doubt that the ambitious food security programme, if successfully enforced, will fetch mileage for the political party conceiving, introducing and implementing the scheme. This apart, more than 80 crore people will benefit from the estimated investment of Rs.1.25 lakh crore. But the very rightful enforcement of the programme is a prime question to which there is yet no definite answer. Though the government emphasises the need for reforms in the PDS, it is governed under the efficient, but corrupt, bureaucratic mechanism.
Uday Bindu Sharma,Ghaziabad
