Some of the major highlights of the Food Security
Bill are:
§ Up to 75% of the rural population (with at least 46% from priority category) and up to 50% of urban population (with at least 28% from priority category) are to be covered under Targeted Public Distribution System.
§ 7 kg of food-grains per person per month to be given to priority category households which include rice, wheat and coarse grains at Rs. 3, 2, and 1 per kg, respectively.
§ At least 3 kg of food-grains per person per month to be given to general category households, at prices not exceeding 50% of Minimum Support Price.
§ Women to be made head of the household for the purpose of issue of ration cards.
§ Maternity benefit to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
§ End-to-end computerisation of Targeted Public Distribution System.
§ Three-tier independent grievance redressal mechanism.
§ Social audit by local bodies such as Gram Panchayats, Village Councils etc.
§ Meals for special groups such as destitute, homeless persons, emergency/disaster affected persons and persons on the verge of starvation.
§ Food Security Allowance in case of non-supply of food-grains or meals.
For improving the availability of Food ,,what
steps must be taken and are taken ?
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana with an outlay of Rs. 25000 crore.
- Naitonal Food Security Mission with an outlay of about Rs. 6,000 crore.
- National Horticulture Mission with an outlay of Rs 10,363.46 crore during the 11 the Five-Year Plan period.
- There are many other schemes dealing with different areas of production, such as soil healthcare, crop protection, and irrigation. Inspite of all these schemes our agriculture is still very vulnerable to the behaviour of the monsoon.
- Our country faces the challenge of producing food not only for 1.2 billion people, but also for about a billion farm animals.
- Nearly seventy per cent of our population lives in villages and their main sources of livelihood are crop and animal husbandry, fisheries, agro-forestry, agro-processing and agri-business
- The National Commission on Farmers (2004-06) has provided a detailed strategy for the agricultural progress of India.
- Food is the first among the hierarchical needs of a human being. Therefore, food security should have the first charge on the available financial resources.
- A National Food Security Act giving legal rights to food can be implemented only by attending to the safe storage of both grains and perishable commodities like fruits, vegetables and milk.