Time to question the assumptions behind the food Bill

In the midst of all the politicking as to how and when the draft food security Bill will become law, one thing at least is clear: the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) intends to push forward with the much-criticised legislation. UPA-II has little to show for four years in power, and perhaps it imagines that the Bill will somehow alter the public perception of its poor performance so far. Many have pointed out that passing an expensive Bill at a time when the government is straining every sinew to contain the fiscal deficit seems unwise; by some estimates, it will increase the food subsidy bill from Rs 90,000 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 1.3 lakh crore.

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