Ccl (Cash Credit Limit) for Bpl (Below Poverty Line) and Apl (Above Poverty Line) Population: an Alternative to Universal Pds (Public Distribution System) in India
International Journal of Politics and Good Governance Volume 1, No. 1.3 Quarter III 2010 ISSN No. 0976 – 1195
CCL (CASH CREDIT LIMIT) FOR BPL (BELOW POVERTY LINE) AND APL (ABOVE POVERTY LINE) POPULATION: AN ALTERNATIVE TO UNIVERSAL PDS (PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM) IN INDIA
Somesh Srivastava
(Associate Professor of Economics, St. John’s College, Agra, India)
Abstract
The Government of India is making frantic efforts to tackle the food security issue. The country has more than 300 million hungry and malnourished people. On the other hand thousands of tonne food grain is rotting in Government granaries. There is certainly a management problem. There is requisite policy deficit also. The Government is trying hard to address both. Scholars and social activists are suggesting universal public distribution system. But it can complicate the issues further. Cash credit limit accounts facility in banks for above poverty line population (APL) can go a long way in addressing the food security problem of India. The paper dwells on this aspect.
Key Words: Food Security, Public Distribution System in India, Food Security Bill, Poverty INTRODUCTION The government of India is seriously working on the draft of Food Security Bill to fulfill its election promise. Most of the activists are demanding universal public distribution system and they are arguing that this will improve the food security of the nation. There are millions of people who are in the above poverty line, the APL hereinafter, but can slip into below poverty line, the BPL hereinafter, due to numerous reasons like unemployment, illness, accidents or family problems etc. Therefore, it is necessary to address the needs of both the APL and the BPL population.
1
International Journal of Politics and Good Governance Volume 1, No. 1.3 Quarter III 2010 ISSN No. 0976 – 1195
The Government of India is hesitant to implement universal public distribution system, considering the inefficiency and corruption in
CCL (CASH CREDIT LIMIT) FOR BPL (BELOW POVERTY LINE) AND APL (ABOVE POVERTY LINE) POPULATION: AN ALTERNATIVE TO UNIVERSAL PDS (PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM) IN INDIA
Somesh Srivastava
(Associate Professor of Economics, St. John’s College, Agra, India)
Abstract
The Government of India is making frantic efforts to tackle the food security issue. The country has more than 300 million hungry and malnourished people. On the other hand thousands of tonne food grain is rotting in Government granaries. There is certainly a management problem. There is requisite policy deficit also. The Government is trying hard to address both. Scholars and social activists are suggesting universal public distribution system. But it can complicate the issues further. Cash credit limit accounts facility in banks for above poverty line population (APL) can go a long way in addressing the food security problem of India. The paper dwells on this aspect.
Key Words: Food Security, Public Distribution System in India, Food Security Bill, Poverty INTRODUCTION The government of India is seriously working on the draft of Food Security Bill to fulfill its election promise. Most of the activists are demanding universal public distribution system and they are arguing that this will improve the food security of the nation. There are millions of people who are in the above poverty line, the APL hereinafter, but can slip into below poverty line, the BPL hereinafter, due to numerous reasons like unemployment, illness, accidents or family problems etc. Therefore, it is necessary to address the needs of both the APL and the BPL population.
1
International Journal of Politics and Good Governance Volume 1, No. 1.3 Quarter III 2010 ISSN No. 0976 – 1195
The Government of India is hesitant to implement universal public distribution system, considering the inefficiency and corruption in
References: 1. C.P. Chandrasekhar, Aug 17th 2010, Managing http://www.macroscan.com/cur/aug10/cur170810Food_Economy.htm the Food Economy, 2. DEALTON, Angus & DREZE, Jean: Food and nutrition in India: Facts and interpretations. Economic & Political Weekly, Vol 44, No.7, Feb 2009, p 42 3. DIOUF, Jacques: Food security and the challenges of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG): The Road Ahead. UN Chronicle, Vol 44, No.4, Dec 2007, p 17 IVING WITH hunger: Deprivation among the aged, single women & people with disability. Economic & Political Weekly, Vol 43, No. 17, April – May 2008, p 87 4. Gopal Krishna, Why PDS overhaul is a must for India 's food security! http://business.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/03/slide-show-1-of-free-foodgrain-to-the-poor-andnational-food-security.htm#contentTop 5. Jayati Ghosh, Sep 9th 2010, Making a Mess of the Food http://www.macroscan.com/cur/sep10/cur090910Food_Security.htm 6. Rahul Goswami, May 4th 2010, Shrinking Cereals, Growing http://www.macroscan.com/anl/may10/anl040510Food_Parks.htm 7. Right to food. Yojana, Vol 52, July 2008, p 8 8. Zeller, M., Schreider, G., von Braun, J. and Heidues, F. 1997. Rural Finance for Food Security for the poor: Implications for Research and Policy. Food Review No. 4. Washington DC, IFPRI. Security Food Bill, Parks, 15