NAC Devised New Food Policy

 National Advisory Council (NAC) on 14th July2010 decided on a uniform universal entitlement of 35 kg of food grains at Rs 3 a kg per month, for both the APL (Above Poverty Line) and BPL (Below Poverty Line) families, in one-fourth of the country’s blocks, which are recognised as most backward in the country. In the rest of the country, NAC decided for differentiated entitlements for the APL and BPL families.

Indicating its shift from an economic BPL and APL differentiation, the NAC recommended a social differentiation of beneficiaries in the remaining three-fourth blocks. According to this, all families who are socially backward groups, including SC/STs will have 35 kg of food-grains at Rs 3 a kg while others will get only up to 25 kg at a higher price.
It is yet to be decided by NAC whether the selection of one fourth of country would be based on blocks or districts.

According to the NAC decision only the marginalised socio-economic groups, like the people living in slums, or people without any shelters and rag-pickers of urban areas will get 35 kg per month at Rs 3 a kg, with the rest of the population residing in urban areas being excluded.

The Planning Commission has constituted SR Hashim Committee to finalise the exact list of under-privileged sections that is likely to benefit from the scheme.

While one-fourth part of the country that will be covered under uniform universal entitlement is likely to start getting the benefits from the year of 2011, the remaining parts will be brought under the policy by 2015, based on the food-grain production of the country and its procurement by the government. Till that time, APL households will get existing allocations, which is a little less than 12 kg per household across the country.
NAC decided to prepare a draft NFSA on food security, which will be discussed only after the Monsoon Session ends on 30 August. 
 
 NAC also decided to bring up issues like increasing agriculture production, PDS and procurement reforms, ICDS reforms, maternity benefits, community kitchens and destitute feeding, along with monitoring and grievance redressal mechanisms, later on.
While NAC chose a balanced approach on right to food, it decided against the draft Communal Violence Bill of 2005 as it considered the present features of the Bill focusing more on empowering state and Central governments rather than making them accountable for administrative failure.