Right to food-in continuation of my Blog dt 9th May 2013

The Indian National Food Security Act2013 ,also popularly known as Right to Food Act was signed into a Law on September 12,2013 The Aim of the Law is to provide subsidized food for nearly 2/3rd of Indian Population of 1.2 billion people. Under the provisions of this Bill beneficiaries would be able to purchase 5 kilograms per eligible person per month of cereals at the prizes mentioned below: Rice at Rs 3/- per kg, wheat at Rs 2/- per kg& Coarse grains At Re1/- per Kg. Pregnant women,LactaTing mothers and a few categories of Children are eligible for Free food under the provisions Of this Law. The controversial Bill for the above Law was presented to the Indian Parliament in December 2012,promulgated as a Presidential Ordnance on July 5,2013 and finally enacted into a Law in August 2013 The SALIENT FEATURES OF THE LAW are : 1)75%& 50% Of Rural& Urban population respectively are entitled for 3 years from August 2013(ie until 2016)5 Kilograms of Food grains(rice,Wheat& Coarse Grains at the rates of Rs3/-,2/-&Re1/- respectively 2) it would be the responsibility of the States of India to make assessment to determine the eligibility of people 3)Pregnant women& Lactating mothers would be entitled to get " Take home Rations"Of Nutritious value Of 600 Calories ,besides Rs6000/-Meternity benefit For SIX months 4)Children between 6 months& 14 Years Are to receive Free Hot meals or Equivalent " Take Home Rations" 5)The Central Government would provide funds to States in case of shortage in the supply Of Food Grains 6)The current Foodgrain allocation of the States will be protected by the Central Government at least for 6 months from August 2013 7)The State Government would provide a food security Allowance to the Beneficiaries in Case of Non-Supply of Food Grains. 8)The Public Distribution System Is to be reformed. 9)The eldest woman in the household,18 years or above,Is the head of The household for The issuance of the Ration Card. 10)There will be State-and District levelRedress mechanisms and 11)state food commissions would be formed for implementation& monitoring Of the Provisions of the Act. 12)The cost of Implementation Is estimated to be $22billion( 1.25 Lacs Crores) ,Ie Approximately 1.5% of the GDP. 13)The poorest who are covered under the Antodaya Yojna will remain entitled to the 35 Kilograms of Grains allotted to them under the mentioned Scheme. Now we have an idea of the biggest achievement of the Government in making a Law to Implement a scheme involving Rs1.25 Lacs of Crores of Rupees ( 22 billions Dollars). The Government which initiated such a big scheme involving the welfare of the poor in India can only ensure the implementation & monitoring of the progress of the scheme. Though very late,this scheme is not one easily could be envisaged .Just highly Brilliant People could plan,introduce,implement& monitor such a welfare scheme for the poorest People of India. Every one knows our life depend upon 3 ingredients mainly.They are water,air& light. These are provided to us by Nature.As far as Kerala is concerned it is the Western Ghats That protect people. Food,shelter& Clothing are supplementary to the above three ingredients. Every Government all over the World try to ensure the availability of Food,Shelter& Clothing to the people. So beware of those who try to destroy the environment & strive to devide the country to rule by opposing schemes designed to lift the poor.Similarly the protection of Environment is also of vital importance. Those who oppose these kind of schemes by organizing Hartals which just serves to incur Loss to the exchequer of the country should be kept away from ruling this Holy country. Deviding & ruling a country amounts to destroyal of every sort of Schemes benieficial to The common man. So beware of those who make false promises which indirectly help the rich alone. No one would ultimately gain anything if rich becomes richer& poor becomes poorer. So a wise decision would appear to be necessary before exercising one's franchise in the Nearest future. SreedharanMundanat 4th April. 2014 08-55Hrs( IST )