http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2012/12/raman-singh-steals-march-over-upa-on.html
Raman Singh steals a march over UPA on food security
Published: December 22, 2012 00:22 IST | Updated: December 22, 2012 04:04 IST
Raman Singh steals a march over UPA on food security
Gargi Parsai
The Hindu
The Raman Singh government will provide foodgrains in subsidised prices to take care of the nutrition needs of needy families. File photo
Chhattisgarh passes improved Food Security Bill
The Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh has stolen a march over the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre by enacting the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act, 2012, which provides for food entitlements to all Antyodaya households, priority households and general households without prescribing any limit on the percentage of beneficiaries in the vulnerable social groups.
The Bill that was passed by State Assembly on Friday, seeks to provide 35 kilogram/per month of foodgrains to Antyodaya (poorest of the poor) families at Re 1 per kg, to priority (Below Poverty Line) households at Rs. 2 per kg and 15 kg/month to general (Above Poverty Line) households at a rate of less than 50 per cent of the minimum support price of the grain.
Said Kavita Srivastava of the Right to Food Campaign: ``It is a very good step forward by the Chhattisgarh government to give a legal food guarantee to almost 90 per cent of its population. The UPA which has kept delaying it has lost its political point.’’
``In many ways it is an improved version of UPA’s National Food Security Bill,’’ pointed out social activist Jean Dreze.
The Chhattisgarh government will provide to the Antyodaya and priority households 2 kg iodised salt for free, 2 kg of pulses at Rs. 10 per kg in non-scheduled areas and 2 kg of black chana (gram) at Rs. 5 per kg in scheduled areas to take care of the nutrition needs of the needy families. While the Centre has gone for a socio-economic caste census to identify the poor and is dithering on who would be the beneficiaries, the Chhattisgarh government has clearly stated that it was not fixing any percentage limits of beneficiaries and “will bear all additional costs’’.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/
Published: December 22, 2012 14:31 IST | Updated: December 23, 2012 03:19 IST
Direct cash transfer is sheer magic: Chidambaram
Mahim Pratap Singh
Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. File photoUnion Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, on Saturday termed the direct cash transfer scheme as pure magic. Inaugurating the 1,000th branch of the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, Mr. Chidambaram said the scheme would ensure that government funds reached the intended beneficiary.
“People have called it a gamechanger, a revolutionary idea, etc. But I say it is pure magic,” said Mr. Chidambaram.
Earlier, when a Central ministry released funds, it could never ensure their delivery to the rightful last-mile beneficiary. Even if complaints were made, it took a long time for them to be redressed, he said. “However, with the direct benefits transfer scheme, money released from Delhi immediately reaches the bank account of the intended beneficiary. It is just like magic,” he said.
“From January 1, 2013, the scheme will be rolled out in several districts across the country and by the end of the year we hope the scheme will cover all districts of the country,” said Mr. Chidambaram.
He, however, urged people to give the scheme some time to work.
“The responsibility of ensuring the success of this scheme rests on the banks and they are fully capable of doing the job like they did in the case of agricultural and educational loans,” he said.
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/direct-cash-transfer-system-a-pure-magic-chidambaram/article4229019.ece