Draft food security bill to go to cabinet by10 December
25 Nov 2011
The draft food security bill is expected to go to cabinet by 10 December, setting the stage for its introduction in the ongoing winter session of the Parliament, minister for food and consumer affairs K V Thomas said.
He said the ministry had asked the government departments to send their comments on the draft bill by 1 December and after this it was expected to go to the union cabinet by 10 December, Thomas, whose ministry is piloting the crucial bill, told reporters on the sidelines of a realty conclave in New Delhi.
According to the food minister, in all likelihood, the proposed bill would be tabled in the ongoing winter session of parliament, which is to end on 21 December.
He added that certain states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and UP had raised issues regarding procurement of foodgrains to meet the requirement of the food legislation.
He said he along with agriculture minister Sharad Pawar would meet them on 14 December to clear their doubts.
Under the proposed law, the ruling Congress Party has promised in its election manifesto, to provide a legal entitlement to subsidised foodgrains to 75 per cent of India's rural population and 50 per cent of urban India.
According to the proposal, the government would supply 7 kg of wheat/rice each month to every person in the 'priority households' category at a price of Rs2 and Rs3 per kg, respectively.
General households would be able to avail a minimum 3 kg of rice and wheat per person per month at a price not over 50 per cent of the support price.
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