Is ordinance route the right way?

 

Questions being raised on the Government’s proposed National Food Security Ordinance

June 13, 2013 - Even when the Cabinet is all set to discuss the approval of the National Food Security Ordinance 2013 in today’s cabinet meet, Times Now has found out that the populist scheme of the Congress may well set the agenda for the Party for the 2014 polls. Times Now has an exclusive copy of the National Food Security Ordinance 2013 which enlists various sops for a majority of the population. The documents and the cabinet note on food security that is going to be discussed in today’s meet enlists various schemes for the poor and the marginalized sections. 

In what could be termed as adding political overtones to the Food Security Ordinance, the Congress justifies the ordinance in the cabinet note by taking a dig at the opposition for stalling the Food Security Bill in the previous Parliament session. The note says “We introduced the National Food Security Bill in the Parliament on each working day since May 2, 2013. But the bill could not be considered and passed as both houses witnessed frequent adjournments and disruptions. In such scenario, the Government is of the considered view that it will not be appropriate to further delay the reaching of the proposed benefits to the people of the country."

If the present cabinet meet or a future meet approves the proposed ordinance then the text of the ordinance will be sent to the President for promulgation. The Government will then introduce a replacement bill in the next Parliament session and the National Food Security Bill 2011, which is pending before the Parliament will be withdrawn.

Some of the highlights of the National Food Security ordinance are as follows -

1. 75 per cent of rural population and 50 per cent of urban population will be covered under Targetted PDS system and will get 5 kg subsidized foodgrains per person per month
2. The subsidized rates are 3 rs per kg for rice, 2 rs per kg for wheat and a rupee per kg for coarse grains
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers will be given meals free of charge during pregnancy and six months after the child birth
4. Every child upto 14 years will get free meals everyday
5. Women of 18 years of age or above to be the head of the household for purpose of issue of ration cards
6. States have to set up internal grievance redressal system
7. State’s have to constitute a State Food Commission to monitor and review the implementation of the ordinance
8. State Government’s expected to implement and monitor the scheme and ensure food security
9. All records to be placed in the public domain to ensure transparency
10. State Governments to set Vigilance Committees
11. Public servants found guilty of not giving the benefits to the citizens will be liable for penalties
12. The Central Govt and State Govts will be liable for a claim by any person entitled in this ordinance if he or she does not get her dues - except in cases of war, flood, drought, fire, cyclone or earthquake affecting the regular supply of food grains

The BJP while opposing the Congress’s ordinance route has said that there is no need for an ordinance when the existing Food Security Bill is still pending before the parliament. While the BJP has been quick to dismiss the proposed ordinance, Congress’s own allies like the NCP has said that the Food Security scheme needs to be debated in the Parliament and that the existing project is full of anomalies as it causes a great loss to the State exchequer and is also too harsh on the farmers. Even Parties like the SP have hit out at the Congress asking whether or not the Congress is hurrying the ordinance eying the 2014 elections. 

Though the Food Security scheme is definitely a measure filled with sops for the lesser privileged majority sections of the country, the question we are asking is if the ordinance route is the only way and whether is this a genuine attempt by the Congress to appease the masses or a blatant move to garner votes in the upcoming Loksabha polls. 

by Prema Sridevi