The central government of the country is all set to unveil the food bill, as a move to give legal right on cheaper food-grains to 63.5 percent of nation’s population, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Talking to media, the food minister KV Thomas said, “The National Food Security Bill will be introduced in Lok Sabha tomorrow.”
Food minister was talking to media in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 77th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).
He told media that permission was granted by the speaker to introduce the bill and the food gain bill would be soon preferred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
When asked to food minister that if concerns raised by some opposition parties, including AIADMK, the minister said, “The bill has been prepared after wide consultations in last two-and-a-half years among various stakeholders including state governments”.
Further, Mr. Thomas said, “Tamil Nadu was a little late in giving their comments. We will consider their views also.”
Moreover, the listed legislation is an important proposal by the UPA government and considered to be pet project of Sonia Gandhi, after Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
In rural parts of the country, more than 75 percent of the people will be bring under this plan, and around 46 percent under priority households (which is same as below poverty line families in the existing public distribution system).
In addition, around 50 percent of people will be covered in the urban centres, with no less than 28 percent under priority category.
The Food Bill seeks to offer 7 kg of rice, wheat and coarse grains per person per month to priority households at Rs 3, Rs 2 and Rs 1 per kg, respectively.
On the other hand, people under general category would get at least 3 kg of grains at a rate not exceeding 50% of the minimum support price.
