India’s new National Food Security Bill 2011 appears to be an aggressive

India’s new National Food Security Bill 2011 appears to be an aggressive attempt to make more food and cheaper food available to more of its poor. The New York Times reports that 75 percent of rural households and 50 percent of urban households would receive aid from the plan, which would cost an additional $3.75 billion (200 billion rupees).

Aside from the financial challenges the proposal poses and the trouble inherent in identifying all the households in need, experts say that the government’s food distribution system is not as effective as it needs to be to carry out the plan. It’s not even as effective as it needs to be to carry out the current plan.

The New York Times says, “The bill does attempt to address the biggest shortcoming of the current system, which is that many of the poor do not get the subsidized food they are entitled to.” The proposed solution includes a food security allowance, as well as what the Times of India calls a “three-tier grievance redressal system.”

It’s no simple issue. Nonprofits are concerned that men of these households might not use the security allowance on food and that critics point out that grievances would be heard by the same department that caused them—which does not have necessary resources to improve. Economists and government experts say more money would be necessary to improve the infrastructure, which is central to solving the problem.

Without a clear plan to improve distribution, some consider the bold bill to be a play for votes in the upcoming elections. Parliament will continue discussions.

http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/01/02/indias-new-food-bill