A look on existing food subsidy systen

August report submitted by expert group headed by Suresh tendulkar former chairman of the National Statistical Commission is a not in favour of those who has planned to make India developed by 2020. This report say that four out of ten in rural areas are poor and not capable to fulfill intake calorie criteria, a significant increase from the government previous estimate. 2004-5 government estimate pegged the rural poverty only 28.5%. It creates a deep concern among policy builder that whether our previous estimate was flawed or poverty being increased in recent year in spite of NAREGA like initiative by UPA government which it claimed a successful act in recent decades. The group, appointed by planning commission, expended the criteria which define the poverty line. New criteria include the education, health and actual spending on rent and conveyance as part of an individual’s consumption basket, besides expenditure on food. Our existing definition of poverty line .In India, since
1972, poverty is being calculated in terms of calories.2100 calories for Urban and 2400 calories for rural areas are the yardsticks to measure poverty in India. Another report published in 2007 put a even more severe picture before us .This report was prepared by National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector, headed by Arjun Sengupta, said 77% of the population subsist at just Rs 12 per person per day, much below the prevailing minimum wage, which ranges between Rs 40 to Rs 150 a day across states.
A indictment of existing food subsidy system—
This time committee report which came yesterday set up by rural development ministry and headed by N.C Sexana figure out the similar conclusion, it say that if we measure the actual poverty of the country on the basis of calorie intake then more than half of our total population will enjoy the yellow ration card. It figure out that number of poor people in country are at least double the officially declared poor in India and recommended to enlarging the category to those who entitled to take cheaper food from government.

What conclusion came from Delhi WTO talks?

Doha round was begin in 2001 to help the developing country to grow by opening trade, to help pull the world out of economic crisis and fight protectionism. The purpose of ministerial meeting of WTO was to broke the impasse and resume the Doha round talks which was broken down in Geneva due to firm determination on their point(not likely to compromise with their farmers need) by some developing countries of which India was the pivotal. Delhi meeting did not talk on any specific issues that are remain open such as a safeguard to help the former of poor country cope with a flood of imports or proposal to remove duties entirely in some industrial sector. That all issues are left to chief negotiator which will be meeting in next talk, but India was confident enough that these issues could be resolved on negotiating table if countries were willing.
Concern of Brazil and some European countries-
these countries had feared that United states wanted to unpick what has already been agreed over seven years but Delhi talk provided comfort to them as meeting decided that talk will resume on the basis of draft negotiating text issued in Dec 2008.
What India wants from Doha round talks—
Uttermost demand by the India (supported by devolving country group) is that there should be no upper limit for increasing duties; it should be left totally on the developing countries to fix it according to their market needs. Second point is that special safeguard measure should be much lower than existing 150%.
American stand-
US demand is that import duty should be increased only when it crosses the specified level which was decided in Uruguay talks and demand of new safeguard duty by devolving country should not be beyond that.

my area of interest widened

These days I m taking the ideas of Amar and Arun on much extent as they have the all time welcomed nature so I never hesitate to ask them about my doubts .When I was in home during the summer vacation I used to envisaged about plan which I would do in my third semester. All plans were based on my civil preparation’s had decided that i will give my most of the time on civil prep
rather than boring math and when I came here I saw the list of teachers allotted to teach us. I was thrilled to see that three of them are nari (women).it was really a very exciting news for me not on the basis that they are attractive (in fact two of them are) but for my own perception that women use to more liberal than men.
my perception came true 100% as I never study their subject except before the exams .I gave two quizzes related to their subject and I did well (meaning of well means average in my sense for math).
these days I m giving most of my times on news papers and discussion with Amar as he has been constant source of motivation for me since I met with him in IITB .His clarity about his views made me aware that how much remains to learn from him. Two days ago he gave me full idea of newspaper reading (esp. economics times) and I begin to work on his road map.