The drums have started rolling to herald entry of the UPA’s food security scheme in Jharkhand. With high incidence of poverty, the State is monitored by the Supreme Court on the food security scenario.
The UPA’s flagship is supposed to be a game-changer for the Assembly polls this year and general elections in 2014.
Though the Government - supported by the Congress - has not set any deadline to launch the scheme, Food & Civil Supplies Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh told The Pioneer there was no hitch in the exercise, which had begun. On the other hand, a source close to the Chief Minister said, “It will take some more time in Jharkhand, as the food & civil supplies department is yet to get a Minister.”
Chief Minister Hemant Soren is expected to expand his Ministry by July 28-29, after the Monsoon Session concludes on Saturday. The Right to Food has to be put in place within six months of promulgation of the Ordinance.
The new system provides for 5 kg of foodgrain per person per month, whereas the present system provides 35 kg of rice per month per family. However, the new law provides for individual as against family entitlement, implying that households which have members less than five will face reduction in foodgrain supply.
The Food and Civil Supplies Secretary also allayed apprehensions expressed by some political leaders that allotment of foodgrain to the State will be reduced after the new law is implemented. “It will be more or less same,” he maintained, adding that the State gets 1.20 lakh MT of rice every month.
Singh, however, said the burden on the State exchequer will be reduced under the new system. “The State Government gets rice under Antyodaya scheme at Rs 3 per kg and Rs 5.80 under the BPl scheme. We will get rice at a uniform rate of Rs 3 per kg under the new system,” he added.
A few States, including Odisha, have said the food security ordinance would have a serious impact. “It is understood that overall rice allotment to the State would decrease from 1,82,000 tonne per month at present to 1,70,000 tonne, leading to a reduction of 12,000 tonne per month,” Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik had said recently.
According to the Jharkhand Food Secretary, under Central guidelines, 83 per cent of the rural population, that is 2.50 crore and 58 per cent of the urban populace, that is, 79.33 lakh people will be covered by the right to food law.
“The State Government will first frame rules to be approved by the Cabinet to implement the new law for food security. Thereafter, we will frame guidelines to identify actual households living below the poverty line,” Singh added.
“Besides, we have to identify targeted households, issue ration cards and provide logistical support for movement of foodgrain,” he said.
The State Government had earlier identified 35 lakh BPl families, including 11 lakh new households in the State, while there are nine lakh families covered under Antyodaya scheme, who are entitled to get 35 kg of foodgrain.