Implementation of the Food Security in Bangaru Telangana

Implementation of the Food Security Act in Telangana:

The Food Security Act mandates the State to supply 5 kg of rice per head without any ceiling on the monthly drawal by a household at Rs. 3 a kg. It also restricts the eligibility criteria on those households with three-room houses and those having 5 acres dry or 2 acres wetland in addition to the income limit. However, in order to increase the coverage of the people availing TPDS, Government of Telangana constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Civil Supplies, under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Civil Supplies. Based on the Committee’s recommendations, income limit has been enhanced for rural areas to Rs. 1.50 lakhs and to Rs.2 lakhs in urban areas. The ceiling on holding of land has also been increased to 3.5 acres of wet land and 7.5 acres of dry land.

District wise Distribution of Food Security Cards: As per the new Act, TPDS covers about 82 percentage of total State's population. District wise distribution of Food Security Cards (FSCs) reveals that highest number of cards were issued in Rangareddy District (about 11.8 lakh cards were issued covering 39.3 lakh population). About 11 lakh FSCs were issued in Karimnagar covering 31.7 lakh persons. In Mahabubnagar District 10.7 lakh cards were issued covering 36.4 persons (see Figure 1). Least number of cards were issued in Nizamabad (6.3 lakh), followed by Khammam (7.3).

Provisioning under NFSA

Re.1 a Kg Rice Scheme: As rice is the staple food in Telangana, affordability of it is critical for food security in the State. Under NFSA, beneficiaries are supplied with 6 kg. rice per person without any ceiling on number of members in the family at Re.1 per kg. is being provided from 1st January, 2015. The AAY card holders will also get 35 Kgs of rice per month per family at Re. 1 per Kg.

At present, the State Government is supplying rice at 6 kgs per unit to 2.86 crore persons at Re.1 per kg as against the Government of India coverage of 1.91 crore persons at 5kg per unit under NFSA, 2013. A quantity of 1.80 lakh MTs of rice is being released per month under the Scheme. Budget allocation of Rs.2200 crore has been provided for rice subsidy scheme during 2015-16.

Redgram Dal: One kg of redgram dal is being supplied to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families at subsidized rate. Government is providing a fixed subsidy of Rs. 50 per Kg of redgram dal. From October, 2015 to December, 2015 One Kg packet of redgram dal is being sold at Rs. 108.50 and the monthly off-take of Dal during third quarter is about 5500 MTs.

As price of Tur dal (redgram) witnessing unprecedented rise during recent times, Government issued instructions on 31.10.2015 to open special counters for sale of redgram dal at Rs. 135/- per kg to the consumers. As on 21.12.2015, 162 special counters have been opened across the State and a quantity of 1,229 qtls of redgram dal has been sold.

Free-Flow Iodized Salt: One kg of iodized salt is being supplied to all BPL cardholders at Rs. 5/- per kg. The monthly off-take of Iodized Salt in the present quarter is about 1200 MTs.

Kerosene: The Government of India allotted 14,544 Kilo Ltrs of kerosene oil to Telangana State and the same is being re-allocating to the districts to both LPG and Non-LPG connection holders. Per month allocation of kerosene to BPL families is as follows: 4 Ltrs to non-LPG household in Municipal Corporations area, 2 ltrs to non-LPG household in municipalities and Mandal headquarters, 2 ltrs to non-LPG in rural areas and 1 liter to households having LPG connection.

Deepam Scheme: With a view to reduce dependence on forest for firewood, improve their health status, remove drudgery due to conventional cooking, Government is subsidising LPG cylinder and regulator to women belonging to the poor sections of the society duly paying the security deposit to Oil Companies. The Government made a budget provision of Rs.50 crore for Deepam scheme in 2015-16 for allotment of 3,12,500 LPG connections. Further, the Oil Marketing Companies would be covering up to 10 lakh additional BPL beneficiaries under Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme initiatives.