Sonia tells Cong states to expedite food scheme

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday directed chief ministers of the party-ruled states to expedite the implementation of the food security scheme and draw up plans to popularise the initiative that seeks to provide cheap food grain to nearly 82 crore people in the country. The Congress was, however, quick to scotch speculations that it was preparing for early elections, claiming that nothing of that sort was discussed at the two-hour meeting attended by chief ministers of 13 of the 14 Congress-ruled states. The Congress is keen to roll out the populist scheme, expected to cost the exchequer Rs 1.25 lakh crore, ahead of the ensuing Assembly elections in five states and the general election. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said they would launch the scheme on August 20, birth anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. It is learnt that Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will also follow. The two-hour meeting saw Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi clarifying certain points of the law, which was being explained by Food Minister K V Thomas. Congress sources said Gandhi did not give any deadline or specific dates for implementing the scheme. Some chief ministers were concerned that food grain allocation to their states would dip due to the implementation of the scheme. Singh is learnt to have said that the Centre will increase the allocations to bridge the shortfall. The meeting was attended by 33 leaders, including Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, chief ministers of 13 Congress-ruled states and all AICC general secretaries. The Uttarakhand chief minister did not attend the meeting citing "pre-occupation with relief efforts” in the rain-ravaged state. The government plans to spend around Rs 1,25 lakh crore annually on supply of about 62 million tonne of rice, wheat and coarse cereals to 67 per cent of the population. AICC general secretary Ajay Maken said the chief ministers were highly appreciative of the measure, which is based on a life-cycle approach to ensue adequate nourishment for every age group. Under the scheme, all pregnant women and lactating mothers in the targeted groups are expected to get nutritious cooked meals from local anganwadis every day or take home rations and Rs 6,000 in installments.   Deccan Herald