2013 - august 7th current affairs _ prepare gk

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of developmental projects because of threats from Naxals. Pradan,

is funded by the Ford Foundation and Gates Foundation. It will

extend its support and expertise in the field of livelihood

generation. It will be called the NSO or the NRLM Support

Organisation.

NRLM is a programme aimed at reducing poverty by promoting

livelihood opportunities for the poor so that their access to financial

services could be improved. NRLM presides over 25 lakh women Self

Help Groups (SHGs). It aims at creating nearly 60 lakh SHGs overthe next five years. The NSO will support State and Central NRLM

missions to guide these SHGs.

Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, Shri

K.V.Thomas introduced National Food Security Bill in Loksabha

on 7th August,2013 to replace the National Food Security

Ordinance, 2013 which was promulgated on 5th July, 2013.

Other features of the Bill are as follows:

Coverage of two thirds population to get highly susidized

foodgrains--

Upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban

population will have uniform entitlement of 5 kg foodgrains per

month at highly subsidized prices of Rs. 3, Rs. 2, Rs. 1 per kg. for

rice, wheat, coarse grains respectively . It will entitle about two

thirds of our 1.2 billion population to subsidised foodgrains under

the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

Poorest of the poor continue to get 35 kg per household--

The poorest of poor households would continue to receive 35 Kg

foodgrains per household per month under Antyodaya Anna Yajna

at subsidized prices of Rs 3, Rs 2 and Rs 1. It is also proposed toprotect the existing allocation of foodgrains to the States/Uts,

subject to it being restricted to average annual offtake during lastthree years.

Eligible households to be identified by the States--

Corresponding to the coverage of 75% rural and 50 % of urban

population at all India level, State wise coverage will be determined

by the Central Government. The work of identification of eligible

households is left to the States/UTs, which may frame their own

criteria or use Social Economic and Caste Census data, if they so

desire.

Special focus on nutritional support to women and children--

There is a special focus on nutritional support to women and

children. Pregnant women and lactating mothers, besides being

entitled to nutritious meals as per the prescribed nutritional norms

will also receive maternity benefit of at least of Rs. 6000/-. Children

in the age group of 6 months to 14 years will be entitled to take

home ration or hot cooked food as per prescribed nutritional norms.

Food Security Allowance in case of non supply of foodgrains--

The Central Government will provide funds to States/UTs in case of

short supply of food grains from Central pool, In case of non-supplyof food grains or meals to entitled persons, the concerned

State/UT Governments will be required to provide such food

security allowance as may be prescribed by the Central

Government to the beneficiaries.


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States to get assistance for intra-State transportation and

handling of foodgrains--

In order to address the concern of the States regarding additional

financial burden, Central Government will provide assistance to the

States towards cost of intra-State transportation, handling of

foodgrains and FPS dealers margin, for which norms will be

developed. This will ensure timely transportation and efficient

handling of foodgrains.

Reforms for doorstep delivery of foodgrains--The Bill also contains provisions for reforms in PDS through doorstep

delivery of foodgrains, application of information and communication

technology (ICT) including end to end computerisation, leveraging

Aadhaar for unique identificat ion of beneficiaries, diversification of

commodities under TPDS etc for effective implementation of the

Food Security Act. Some of these reforms are already underway.

Women Empowerment-- Eldest women will be Head of the

household--

Eldest woman of eighteen years of age or above will be head of the

household for issue of ration card, and if not available, the eldestmale member is to be the head of the household.

Grievance redressal mechanism at district level--

There will be state and district level redressal mechanism with

designated officers. The States will be allowed to use the existing

machinery for District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO), State

Food Commission, if they so desire, to save expenditure on

establishment of new redressal set up. Redressal mechanism may

also include call centers, helpline etc.

Social audits and vigilance committees to ensure

transparency and accountability--Provisions have also been made for disclosure of records relating to

PDS, social audits and setting up of Vigilance Committees in order

to ensure transparency and accountability.

Penalty for non compliance--

The Bill provides for penalty to be imposed on public servants or

authority, if found guilty of failing to comply with the relief

recommended by the District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO).

Expenditure:

At the proposed coverage of entitlement, total estimated annual

foodgrains requirement is 612.3 lakh tons and corresponding

estimated food subsidy for 2013-14 costs is about Rs.1,24,724

crore.

It may be recalled that in June, 2009, the Central Government

made a commitment to enact a new law to provide a statutory

basis for food security of the people. Accordingly, the National

Food Security Bill, 2011 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 22nd

December, 2011.

After its introduction the bill was referred to the Parliamentary

Standing Committee on Food, for examination and Report. TheStanding Committee presented its report on 17th January, 2013.

The recommendations of the Standing Committee were examined on

priority; and accordingly, Government gave notice in Lok Sabha in

the Budget Session for consideration and passing of the said Bill,

along with official amendments. The said Bill was included in the


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Business of the House twice on 21st and 22nd March, 2013, before

the recess of the Session.

Subsequently, after reassembly of the House on 22nd April, 2013,

the Bill was again listed on each working day since 2nd May, 2013.

A motion for consideration and passing of the Bill was moved in the

Lok Sabha on 2nd May, 2013 and the discussion were held on the

Bill on 6th and 7th May, 2013. However, the discussion could not

be concluded in the Budget Session, as Parliament was adjourned

sine die on 8th May, 2013.In view of the time that has already lapsed in passing of the

National Food Security Bill, 2011 since its announcement on 4th

June, 2009, and further delay in getting it passed through

Parliament, the Government was of the considered view that it will

not be appropriate to further delay the reaching of the proposed

benefits of the Bill to the people of the country.

As both the Houses of Parliament were not in Session the National

Food Security Ordinance, 2013 was promulgated on 5th July, 2013

which now has been replaced by introduction of the Food Security

Bill in the Lok Sabha

An Aadhaar enrolment centre at the Yojana Bhawan, New

Delhi was inaugurated on 7th August, 2013 by Smt.

Sindhushree Khullar, Secretary, Planning Commission in the

presence of Dr. V S Madan, DG & MD, UIDAI.

The enrolment centre will besides Aadhaar enrolments will also have

facility for obtaining an e-Aadhaar, updation and also queries

regarding the status of the enrolment. The centre has been set up

by the Delhi Regional Office of the UIDAI.

Economic Issues

The Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and

Development Council (FSDC) on 7th August,2013 decided to

set up a forum for inter-agency coordination and exchange of

information about collective investment schemes (CIS) and

discussed the need for a nationwide awareness campaign in this

respect. FSDC reviewed the potential risks to stability of the

domestic financial system, including deteriorating asset quality of

public sector banks.

The Sub-Committee also discussed the potential impact on India of

the extra-territorial aspects of regulations by European Securities

and Markets Authority (ESMA) and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading

Commission (CFTC) and decided to chalk out a unified strategy for

the same.

The Sub-Committee also reviewed the functioning of its technical

groups set up for focussed attention on different areas/segments

on financial Inclusion, financial literacy and the inter-regulatory

coordination.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of

Rs.5,62,555 on State Bank of India for violating the norms for

opening and maintaining currency chests.


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