While the idea of providing Food Security to all is laudable, there are many ifs and buts. Look at the politics behind the bill. There is a tug of war between the NAC and the government .The NAC, which is perceived as a super government is battling with issues like dual pricing — Rs 3 a kg for BPL families, and a price close to the minimum support price for the rest. The other issues include the question of increasing the quantity of food grains to 35 kgs per family per month from 25 kgs as also the coverage. The universal food security would cost about Rs 90,000 crores, which is double of the government's budget of the prestigious NREGA programme. Perhaps Sonia Gandhi does not want to push the government too much as she has asked the NAC to consult the ministry before finalising the draft appreciating the government's concern for fiscal deficit and the cost of the food subsidy.

Secondly, it is the Congress Party versus the NCP rivalry. The Congress certainly wants to take full credit for the measure but it will be the NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar who will pilot the bill and also get it passed. With elections to various states this year and next year, the Congress wants to fully take advantage of the populist measure. The Agriculture Minister too would like to share the limelight but he wants to be cautious. First of all, the Central bill has to be implemented by the states and they should be on board. Second is the quantum — whether it should be 25 kgs or 35 kgs for each family. The third and most important is who will benefit. The ministry is not in favour of universalisation as the cost would be prohibitive. The fourth is identification of the beneficiaries. Though poverty estimates had been made by other committees such as Arjun Sengupta Committee, Saxena Committee and Tendulkar Committee, the requirement of food grains and subsidy is still decided on the basis of survey made by the Planning Commission, which is the lowest poverty estimate. To the government's dismay, all three officially constituted committees have turned up estimates of poverty higher than its own.

Thirdly, even within the Congress party, opinion is divided whether it should be universal or only for BPL families.

At another level, other political parties also have a say when the bill is brought to Parliament. The left is insisting on universalisation of the PDS. While the NAC too was of the same view initially, now it is looking to other options.

As far as major opposition the BJP, it has not opened its card so far. The BJP, if it wants to block the bill can always demand universalisation, which would create problems for the government.

The other parties like the BSP, SP and RJD would join the bandwagon of the universalisation of the act because of the electoral politics. They have to face the polls in 2012 in UP.

If one goes by last year's UN World Food programme report more than 27 per cent of the worlds undernourished live in India. About 43 per cent of children in India are underweight, even higher than the Sub Sahara region.

Presently, it is a bizarre scenario where the poor are denied food while huge amounts of food grains are rotting in some states. According to Supreme Court Commissioners, as much as 50,000 metric tonnes of food grains have already gone bad. In Haryana, 31,574 MT of grains have been lying in the open since 2008-09. No wonder the Apex Court has ordered that this should be distributed to the poor.

India's food security is worsening by the year. And the cost of food items is increasing rapidly. There is also short supply of pulses and edible oils, which are being imported now.

It is quire alarming that by 2050 the country's population is going to double and remain at more than two billion. While the population is on the increase, the food production is falling and the gap will become increasingly larger. Unless the population growth is contained, it will be a serious problem to feed so many mouths.

Secondly, the procurement is not the real problem but the distribution of food grains. While the Food security is important, focus should also be on a successful delivery mechanism and a good Public Distribution System.

Thirdly, with declining productivity and growing population, the future looks bleak. Gone are the days of green revolution and there is need for a second green revolution.

Fourthly, preservation of the acquired food grains is yet another problem. The government must ensure that the storage is adequate so that there will be no wastage.

Fifthly, unless proper distribution of food grains is taken care of, passing any amount of laws are not going to help the poor. Corruption and leakage in the PDS are widespread. The efficiency of the PDS is good in the southern states while the Northern states have to do much.

The Empowered Group of Ministers cleared in March delinking food security from nutritional security. It recommended a blanket definition of BPL families and suggested a monthly quota of 25 kg of rice/wheat without fixing the price. It also introduced the concept of a food security allowance in cash if grains are unavailable. With rethinking on both sides, the NAC and the government will have to go halfway to meet each other and the biggest worry would be how to find the finance for the food security. (IPA Service)