NAC for food security in one-fourth of districts, for now
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COMMENTS 
The National Advisory Council has decided to make initial recommendations that could be implemented by the end of 2010, without waiting for the Food Security Bill to be finalised and legislated
The National Advisory Council (NAC), headed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, met the food ministry halfway on July 14, 2010, when it recommended the extension of universal food entitlements to one-fourth of either poorest districts or poorest blocks in the country.
Striking the middle ground between the government’s draft Bill and NAC members’ suggestions, the council, in its third meeting, decided to recommend initial universalisation of subsidised foodgrain supply to one-fourth of poorest districts or blocks.
The NAC, it seems, has accepted Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s view that massive infrastructure development is required before implementation of the Food Security Bill, and that universalisation of food security would not be possible given the current state of agricultural productivity and level of grain procurement.
“The council felt that while time-bound universalisation of foodgrain entitlements across the country might be desirable, limited initial universalisation was a more practical approach,” NAC member N C Saxena said.
Another member M S Swaminathan said: “Apart from 35 kg of foodgrain (at Rs 3) to one-fourth of poorest districts/blocks, disadvantaged groups will be given nutritional aid throughout the country without waiting for the legislation to come through.”
In urban areas too, eligible households identified by criteria developed by the Planning Commission, based on recommendations of the Hashim Committee, will be entitled to 35 kg a month at Rs 3 for 1 kg, he added.
Members were in favour of implementation of universal food entitlements in one-fourth of poorest blocks rather than one-fourth of districts as that would better target the most vulnerable. But they felt it would be better to let the government take a call on this, depending on administrative convenience.
The NAC, sources said, would like these decisions implemented in a time-bound manner, within a year of the Food Security Bill being passed.
In another development, the NAC rejected outright the draft on the Communal Violence Bill and decided to go back to the drawing-board to prepare a new Bill -- a shorter, crisper and more pointed one -- before taking it up for discussion with the government.
Sources said the contours of the NAC’s proposed Bill were discussed, and the key principle that was accepted was that of public accountability and command responsibility -- that is, officials and others should be held responsible for acts of omission and commission during prolonged communal violence.
The overriding principle would be that just as the right to information increased the civil liability of officials and those holding public office, the Communal Violence Bill should increase the criminal liability of officials and make them responsible for protecting the life and liberty of citizens.
Source: The Indian Express, July 15, 2010
The Hindu, July 15, 2010
Press Trust of India, July 15, 2010