Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said implementing the
Food Security Bill is a big responsibility of the government.
"Food Bill is a big responsibility but we have to implement it. Simultaneously, care should be taken to protect interests of farmers so that they are adequately compensated for their produce," Pawar said at a book release function in New Delhi.
Pranab approves changes in Food Bill The draft National Food Security Bill seeks to provide a legal entitlement to subsidised foodgrains to 75 per cent of the country's rural population and 50 per cent of urban India.
MUST READ: Problems remain in draft Food Bill The proposed bill would cost the government exchequer more than Rs 1,00,000 crore annually in subsidies.
Last month, the minister had said that the proposed food security law should be given only to the "really needy people" and had suggested that the government should have a re-look at prices of ration supplies.
The government should ensure that subsidised foodgrains are not misused as procurement prices are much higher than the rates at which grains are supplied through ration shops, he had said.
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