APL families can be considered for food security
Thursday, 15 July 2010
NEW DELHI, July 14 (PTI): The Indian Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) Chairman C Rangarajan yesterday said that people above the poverty line can also be considered for the United Progressive Alliance government's pet food security scheme under which subsidised foodgrains will be available at ration shops as a legal right.
"Another alternative that one can think of is to give to the BPL (below poverty line) households 30 kgs per month and to APL (above poverty line) households 15 kgs per month. This will in a way ensure that all households will be assured of some minimum availability of foodgrains," Rangarajan said at a conference organised by the Ministry of Food here.
The Food Security Act as proposed by the UPA government assures rice/wheat at Rs 3 a kg to BPL families as a matter of legal right. The issue of quantity has been kept open, even though 25 kg was proposed earlier.
The Left parties had also been demanding universalisation of the Public Distribution System under which subsidised foodgrains are made available at ration shops on equal terms.
However, Rangarajan said that there would have to be different prices for BPL and APL households in order to keep the subsidy burden under control.
By present estimates, the number of BPL households is 6.5 crore and the APL 11.5 crore.
An Empowered Group of Ministers, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is examining different aspects of the proposed food security legislation, including the number of eligible households and the monthly quantity.
"Another alternative that one can think of is to give to the BPL (below poverty line) households 30 kgs per month and to APL (above poverty line) households 15 kgs per month. This will in a way ensure that all households will be assured of some minimum availability of foodgrains," Rangarajan said at a conference organised by the Ministry of Food here.
The Food Security Act as proposed by the UPA government assures rice/wheat at Rs 3 a kg to BPL families as a matter of legal right. The issue of quantity has been kept open, even though 25 kg was proposed earlier.
The Left parties had also been demanding universalisation of the Public Distribution System under which subsidised foodgrains are made available at ration shops on equal terms.
However, Rangarajan said that there would have to be different prices for BPL and APL households in order to keep the subsidy burden under control.
By present estimates, the number of BPL households is 6.5 crore and the APL 11.5 crore.
An Empowered Group of Ministers, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is examining different aspects of the proposed food security legislation, including the number of eligible households and the monthly quantity.