The framework for food security, cleared by the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council on Saturday, if implemented, will entail an additional expenditure of Rs.15,137 crore annually in the first phase. It is slated to kick off next year and will cost Rs. 23,231 crore annually when the entire population is covered by March 2014.

Assuming an offtake of 85-90 per cent, the procurement will have to go up from 55 million tonnes of foodgrains to 57-58 million tonnes in the first phase, and to 63-64 million tonnes in the second phase.

(At an earlier stage of the discussions, the NAC was talking of the need to procure 85 million tonnes while pushing for a universal system of entitlements, with all citizens eligible to receive the same amount of foodgrains at the same price.)........Click for more

Source Web Page: The Hindu