Budget 2012: Provide adequate funds for food security, demand NGOs

NEW DELHI: The government should provide adequate funds for implementation of the proposed food security law, which aims to provide legal right on subsidised foodgrains to 63.5 per cent of population, non-government organisations demanded today.

"Union Budget 2012-13 should provide adequate resources for implementation of national food security legislation. Food subsidy in the Budget should be increased significantly from the current amount of Rs 60,572 crore," the joint budget wish list of NGOs, CBGA and Oxfam India, said.

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The government's approach, it said, towards addressing concerns of food security should be more broadbased and it should aim at achieving nutrition security that also links to health concerns.

The food security bill, considered as pet project of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, was presented in Parliament in the winter session and has been referred to the Standing Committee for recommendations.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will present the Budget 2012-13 on March 16.

CBGA further said provisions for education for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe should be increased to at least Rs 3,000 per child.

"Similarly, the Budget provisions earmarked for education of a girl children should be enhanced from Rs 1,265 to Rs 3,000 in 2012-13," it added.

On the issue of tax structure, CBGA governing board member Praveen Jha said the people earning more should pay more taxes.

"Well off (people) should take more responsibility... taxes should be in proportion to income," he said.

While income tax rates increase as income increases, the incidence of indirect taxes is same for everyone.