It doesn’t pay SP to oppose food Bill

legislation.

The 2009-10 below poverty line figures on the basis of the Suresh Tendulkar methodology,in contrast,would have meant that only 39.4 per cent of rural and 31.7 per cent of urban UP would be eligible for highly subsidised foodgrain.

This massive jump in coverage,SP sources admitted,would make it very difficult for the party to outrightly

reject the legislation in an election year.

“After the promulgation of National Food Security Ordinance,the sheer jump in the number of eligible households will make it difficult for us to oppose the legislation outrightly. Though we still hold that the move is anti-farmer,we cannot ignore the expansive coverage and will not like to be seen against such move. Therefore,we will press for a detailed discussion in Parliament to address the concerns of farming community,” confided an SP source.

The Food Ministry calculations indicated the reason why Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and consequently the JD(U) have decided support the move in Parliament.

The figures worked out by ministry reveal that 86.7 per cent of rural and 73.16 per cent of urban population in Bihar will be eligible for highly subsidised food guarantee from the Centre. This is in contrast to the Tendulkar methodology which pegged the BPL population in Bihar for rural at 55.3 per cent and urban at 39.4 per cent for 2009-10.

On Monday,Nitish backed the legislation and said that he has begun preparation for its implementation. “It would have been better if the ordinance had come after proper discussion in Parliament. But now there is no such option and the state government will take steps for implementation of food laws,” he said in Patna.

Even for the BJP,which has slammed the move highlighting its Chhattisgarh government’s food security legislation,there is some food for thought. Official figures suggest that 84.27 per cent of rural Chhattisgarh will be

eligible for subsidised

foodgrain,which is marginally behind 90 per cent entitlement under state food guarantee law.

According to the Bill,the scheme will cover 75 per cent of the rural and 50 per cent of the urban population. The scheme provides for distribution of rice at Rs 3 per kg,wheat at Rs 2 per kg and coarse grains at Rs 1 per kg.

states with maximum coverage

State Rural Urban

Manipur 88.04 85.81

U.P 80.71 61.25

Bihar 86.70 73.16

Chhattisgarh 84.27 56.52

Jharkhand 83.44 58.51

population Figures in percentage