Aadhaar, PDS to identify Food Bill beneficiaries: Thomas

The controversial Food Bill is yet to be passed in Lok Sabha with the ruling government blaming the Bhartiya Janata Party and Left parties for not showing any inclination to join the discussion. Speaking on the subject, Food Minister KV Thomas told CNBC-TV18 Bill will likley get cleared in next session of Parliament.

Thomas insists that the work on the Food Bill has gone on for years and the new mechanism, when implemented, won't cause any problem. He says the food grain production is at record high and the improvisation of public distribution system (PDS) and the new Aadhaar system will also help in smooth implementation of their mission. Also Read: Rajnath asks govt to advance monsoon session for Food Bill
He is also confident that there will not be any problem in implementating the identification mechanism of the people living below the poverty line (BPL). Below is the verbatim transcript of KV Thomas's interview on CNBC-TV18 Q: What are your views regarding the Food Bill?
A: As the food minister of the country, this important bill is now the property of the Lok Sabha. Discussions have started and unfortunately because of the attitude of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some Left parties even the question hour could not be there, forget discussion on the Food Bill. Now it has been discussed, next session is coming, so, I will go along with whatever my political leadership gives me. Q: Are you confident that even your allies including Sharad Pawar will be onboard regarding this crucial legislation?
A: It is a political question that I cannot answer. Q: As far as the Food Bill is concerned, there are several mechanisms that need to be established in the district level. Once this legislation is established those mechanisms have to be put in place at district level, are you confident that once this legislation comes into force, those mechanisms will be in place this year itself?
A: We have gone much ahead. It took four and a half years – we started from scratch. First we did not have enough food grain production in the country. It's a record of 82 million tonnes in procurement now. Our production is to the tune of 250 million tonnes. The capacity of storage from 55 million tonnes has gone to 75 million tonnes. Our public distribution system (PDS) has improved.
There is Aadhaar, there is computerisation, biometric system, many states have done well. So, things are moving faster. The states already know where they stand as we are in constant touch with the states.
I am very confident that every state wants to implement this bill. Q: The beneficiaries of the Food Security bill have to be identified and that is very crucial for the implementation of the bill. What is the way forward on that?
A: There is an identification mechanism. It is only below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL), from that system it will become priority. So, these are the things that they can do because many states are computerized and is only a technical matter. It may take some time but once the bill is approved, many states will go ahead.
People BPL are getting rice at Rs 5 per kilograms, I am going to give at Rs 3 which they are getting at Rs 4. They are getting wheat at Rs 4, I am going to give them at Rs 2 and I am covering much better coverage for the BPL. Now I am covering about 6.52 crore of families. I am going to cover about 67 percent of the population that is 80 crore of people. So, that means that once this bill is approved and implemented, the states will be best beneficiaries. Q: Are you confident that in monsoon session, you will get a stand from both the lower and the upper house?
A: I am not going to the monsoon session. I am working on that – how it has to be passed, whether it should just be passed, these are all political decisions.