NAC finalises basic framework for food security bill

NAC finalises basic framework for food security bill

Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council on Monday finalised the basic framework of the draft food security bill that aims to make differential legal entitlement of foodgrains to 75 pc households.

The NAC, which was yet to receive a government-appointed expert panel's remarks on its recommendations, is understood to have reached a consensus on the basic framework of the draft legislation.

In October last, the panel chaired by Gandhi had drawn up ambitious plans to make differential legal entitlement of foodgrains to 75 percent households covering rural and urban areas.

As per the recommendations, 90 percent of the rural areas and 50 percent of the urban parts are proposed to be covered under the draft food security law.

The NAC had sent its recommendations to the government on 27^th October following which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked Chairman of his Economic Advisory Council C Rangarajan to examine the proposals.

Reports had it that the Rangarajan Committee was of the opinion that implementation of the NAC recommendation would not be feasible after factoring in the availability of foodgrains.

"We have not received the Rangarajan Committee report. Whatever we have heard about it is through media reports," a NAC member said on Monday.

The member said that estimates of the NAC on foodgrain procurement were "more realistic" as it had consulted the Planning Commission and the Food Ministry before finalising its recommendations.

A statement issued after the NAC meeting said: "After deliberations the Council suggested that the Note be supported with more analytical content. The revised note may be placed before the NAC at its next meeting".

A member said that the NAC wanted to have a preamble or an analytical section to the draft bill explaining the rationale for it.