Kuruppassery Varkey Thomas is a happy man. The discussions on implementing the National Food Security Bill, a promise made by the United Progressive Alliance in 2009, saw some action when Thomas got Independent Charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, on January 19, 2011. A confidante of UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, Thomas was hand-picked for the job when the Government developed cold feet.
The Food Security Bill, with more than 80 amendments in its original form, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday. Thomas spoke to Business Line on the tasks ahead on implementing the scheme.
This is team work. Soniaji and the Prime Minister gave leadership to our efforts. If you look at the last four-and-a-half years, a large number of people contributed to the framing of this Bill. The draft was tabled in Parliament in 2012. It was sent to the Standing Committee chaired by Vilas Muttemwar. They took one year and suggested substantial changes. We moved 73 amendments to the original Bill. Those amendments were included in the Ordinance. So, now, we could pass the Bill in the Lok Sabha. Some changes were made in the Bill in the last stage too.
Is the Congress looking for political benefits by implementing this scheme?
In a democracy, a Government will always have political conclusions. Apart from that, this is a pro-poor legislation. Every member in Parliament has tried to rise above politics and pass this legislation. Food as a right was the consideration before us.
What will be the additional burden on the Centre after these amendments?
There is an additional burden of Rs 5,000 crore, as we agreed that the 18 States that may get less than what they are getting now under the APL (above poverty line) schemes will continue to get the same quantity of foodgrains at the same price. So, now, the burden on the Centre is Rs 1,30,000 crore.
We may not have to look for additional allocation of foodgrains. By giving a thrust to modernisation of the public distribution system and better storage mechanism, we can plug the loopholes. Once that is implemented, the quantity of the foodgrains and the subsidy component will come down. Once this is done, the entire scenario will change. We are waiting for that.
We have to modernise PDS using end-to-end computerisation and Aadhaar cards. Storage mechanism also has to improve. Five years ago, the Centre’s storage capacity was 55 million tonnes. Now, it’s 75 million tonnes. In the next two years, we will add 10 million tonnes and it will be 85 million tonnes. We are helping States improve their storage mechanism. States should conduct social audits of PDS. Panchayati raj institutions will also have to intervene.
Are you hopeful of the Bill’s passage in the Rajya Sabha, where the UPA is a minority?
All members were very positive in their efforts in the Lok Sabha. I am sure this spirit will be reflected in the Rajya Sabha, too. There were about 300 amendments. All these amendments can be categorised into 10. We have accepted nine. Almost all the amendments of the Opposition, except that on universal rationing, have been accepted.
Similarly, the provision for ready-to-eat food has been changed to ‘hot cooked food’ to avoid complaints that this may help only multinational biscuit companies. In the Ordinance, States were given six months to implement the scheme, now they will get 365 days.