While gunning for food management reforms in the country, the Economic Survey however pointed towards how the surplus foodstocks have been a blessing in disguise in a year of drought.

The Survey, on Thuirsday presented in Parliament, said surplus foodstocks are a fundamental resource for drought relief in a year when 17 major states were hit by the scantiest monsoon of the century. It also cautioned that the interests of the poor have to be safeguarded while undertaking grain management.

Off-take of wheat and rice combined under welfare schemes, which was 31.91 lakh tonnes in 2000-01 and 71.85 lakh tones in 2001-02 has already touched 74.58 lakh tonnes up to December in the current fiscal, it said.

"Though pruning of the existing food subsidy level is imperative and could be done by reducing operational inefficiency, interests of the poor also have to be safeguarded," the Survey cautioned.

It said unlike floods where the impact is limited to only one season, the impact of drought lasts not only through the four months of kharif season (July-October) but also through rabi (November-March).

PTI