Foodgrains for APL to see hike?
Facing “problem of plenty” due to record foodgrains production and uncertainty over the Food Security Bill, the Centre is mulling significant hike in foodgrains for APL (above poverty line) card holders. The move, which is part of the Centre’s plan to give relief to the common man hit hard by high food inflation, is afoot to allow APL card holders to get 20 kg of foodgrains, which could further be hiked later on.
In a bid to ensure that the record foodgrains procurement goes beyond the holding capacity of government agencies, the Centre, sources said, would allow the state governments to lift much higher quantity of foodgrains above their quota, which would also be upwardly revised soon.
Sources in the food ministry said that the Centre would pass on the benefits of higher foodgrains procurement following record productions to the people at large. “We are now faced with the problem of plenty. Even after the mandatory reserve requirement, we will be left with much higher quantity of foodgrains over and above the holding capacity of various godowns. Therefore, the government will soon allow the APL card holders to take home 20 kg of foodgrains to begin with,” said a senior official.
The government is also mulling to pass on the benefit of higher foodgrains procurement to BPL (below poverty line) and Antyodya Anna Yojna card holders. “The quota of state governments will be enhanced, which will help them to ensure that all the BPL and AAY card holders, who are not getting their quota of foodgrains, too avail of the subsidiesd foodgrains,” added the official.
Though the Centre is shy of universalising the food subsidy scheme through the Food Security Bill, the Centre’s move to allow 20 kg of foodgrains for the APL is apparently being pushed through with the objective to ensure that the lower middle class is insulated from the high food inflation.
“The Food Security Bill is being opposed by some political parties and few state governments primarily for political reason. However, the Centre will not wait indefinitely for the Food Bill to become a reality and in place would implement some its provisions through administrative initiatives,” said the official.
Post new comment