Cabinet approves Food Security Bill
New Delhi, Mar 19 : Aiming to give right to food to around 67 percent of the population, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the revised National Food Security Bill without any changes in it, reports said.
The Bill states that around 800 million people in the country, which includes 75 percent of the rural population and 50 percent of poor people in urban areas, will be eligible to get five kilos of subsidised grain per month.
After the Cabinet meeting, Union Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister K.V.Thomas told media: "Revised Food Bill has been cleared. We will try to bring the amendments to the Food Bill in Parliament before Friday."
"Uniform prices of Rs 3, 2 and 1 per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains, respectively, will be applicable to all eligible beneficiaries. The prices would be revised after three years from the implementation of the Act," he said.
The National Food Security Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December, 2011 after a wide ranging process of consultation, including consultation with States on more than one occasion and thereafter was examined in detail by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
The Bill also contains provisions for nutritional support to women and children besides provisions for meals to special groups such as destitute and homeless, emergency and disaster affected persons and persons living in starvation.
Pregnant and lactating women will also be entitled to receive maternity benefit of Rs. 1000 per month for six months. In case of non-supply of food grains or meals, entitled persons will be provided food security allowance by the concerned State/Union Territory Governments.