Food Bill likely to be approved by Cabinet on Tuesday

The government is keen to introduce the National Food Security Bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament after it is likely to get the approval of the Cabinet on Tuesday.

The Bill proposes right to 7 kg foodgrain per month per person, at Rs 3 per kg for rice, Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 1 per kg for coarse grains to the priority beneficiaries.

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The winter session of Parliament ends on December 22.

The draft Bill, which bears the stamp of Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, seeks to cover up to 75 per cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of urban households.

"The cabinet will take up the Bill on Tuesday...We have fast-tracked the process and will introduce the Bill this session," Food Minister K.V. Thomas told IANS.

Sources said the food ministry has obtained views of other ministries and has adequately addressed their concerns in the draft Bill.

For instance, the draft Bill suggests investment in the agriculture sector to boost food production in the long run. It also stresses on revamping the public distribution system, which will deliver the grains to the beneficiaries.

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Taking note of concerns expressed by the states, the ministry has provided for cost-sharing in all the schemes under the draft Bill.

The states want the central government to fully or partially share the cost of implementing the proposed law which is expected to substantially push the current food subsidy Bill to Rs 63,000 crore.

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For instance, the cost-sharing model in the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme would be different from the mid-day meal scheme.

Other objections of the states include authority to decide on the criteria to identify the beneficiaries. While the Chhattisgarh government wants to do the job itself, Bihar prefers an independent body to identify the beneficiaries.

Officials said the draft Bill proposes legal rights to women, children, special groups including the destitute and homeless, emergency and disaster affected persons and persons living in starvation to take home ration/meals.

To implement the right to food, the government has proposed to set up a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism at district, state and national level for the implementation of the legislation.

- With IANS inputs