Can’t follow tips on foodgrain storage, Supreme Court told

NEW DELHI - The central government Monday told the Supreme Court that it could not follow its suggestion to procure foodgrains in proportion to storage capacity as it had to cater to the farmers by providing them minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.

The government said that the “procurement policy of the government of India has twin objectives of ensuring minimum support price to the farmers and meeting the requirements of the food grains for the public distribution system (PDS) and other welfare schemes”.

The court was told that if procurement agencies of both the central government and state governments were not to lift the farmers’ produce then in peak procurement season, they (farmers) would be left at the mercy of traders who may not pay adequate price.

The inadequate returns would be a disincentive for the farmers to sow these crops which in turn would “drastically impact food security of the nation”.

The central government told this to an apex court bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma in its comprehensive affidavit filed in pursuance to the court’s directions seeking information on its procurement and storage policy and public distribution system for the below poverty line (BPL), above poverty line (APL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) ration card holders.

The court directions of Aug 31 came during the hearing on a petition filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties pointing to the wastage of foodgrains because of improper storage, exposure to vagaries of nature and corruption in the functioning of the PDS.

The court has also received a report which has pointed to corruption in the functioning of the PDS.

The government’s affidavit did not directly say so but it made it clear that it was not inclined to heed the apex court’s suggestion to supply foodgrains free to the poor.

The government said that under AAY the element of subsidy was 87.05 percent in case of wheat and 85.32 percent in respect of rice.

For the BPL card holders, the subsidy component was 73.12 percent and 72.35 percent for wheat and the rice, respectively.

The central government said the abolition of APL category of card holders was not desirable in view of the food security law under consideration of the government.

The court was told that the National Advisory Council was already examining the entire issue of food security and the proposed legislation would be finalized soon.

The affidavit was filed by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Joint Secretary C. Vishwanath.