By IANS,
New Delhi : There were some ticklish issues concerning food security bill, including its scope and financial implications, a senior official said here Wednesday but asserted that the legislation will be effective in meeting its purpose to a great extent.
Speaking at a panel discussion on “India’s Food Security – Collaborative Solutions” following launch of Global Food Security Index 2012 here, Balvender Kumar, additional secretary in the agriculture ministry, said there was a debate about the scope of priority group and financial commitment of the government relating to the food security bill.
“How much government should commit? There is dispute – how much (should be the) priority area,” Kumar said. He said the proposed bill, which is pending in parliament, entails covering 75 percent of rural population and 50 percent of urban population.
“The food security bill is going to address to a great extent (the challenge of) food security,” Kumar said. He said there was paradox about the country having “excess food” and its ineffective distribution to the poor.
He said there was problem in delivery mechanisms such as public distribution system and the states have been told to address these concerns.