Govt to release rotting grains for poor, but not for free
After censure by the Supreme Court over the rotting of food grains in government stockyards, the Centre on Thursday decided to release an additional 2.5 million tonne of food grain to states for distribution among the poor.
However, the Centre made it clear that the additional food stock will be distributed at rates prescribed for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and not for free. This decision was taken here during a Group of Ministers meeting chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The SC on August 31 had strongly criticised the government for allowing food grains to rot in godowns instead of giving it to the hungry. When government did not respond to the highest court observation, the court again rapped the Centre by saying that the government should comply to its earlier order.
Meanwhile, the government is also exploring options to overhaul the public distribution system (PDS), including increasing the number of eligible BPL families. The Centre is also planning to increase the quantity of food grain distributed to the poor under the PDS.
At present, there are 6.52 crore families registered under the BPL category in the country with each eligible for 35 kg of food grain a month. For them, rice is distributed at Rs 5.65 per kg while wheat is allocated at Rs 4.15 per kg. If the proposed overhaul in the number of BPL families receives the government’s nod, the number of BPL families in India is expected to increase to 8.1 crore.
