Govt may Table Food Security Bill in Next Parlia

KOCHI: The Central Government is likely to table the Food Security Bill in the next session of Parliament, Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas has said.
Thomas told reporters here on Friday that the ministry had given inprinciple approval to the draft of the Bill which had been cleared by the National Advisory Council headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.The food items will be given to around 70 per cent of the total population at subsidised rates. For BPL families, rice will be given at ` 3 while wheat and millet will be given at ` 2 and ` 1 respectively. Around 50 lakh tonnes of rice each will be given to APL and BPL families. In the wake of the Supreme Court order, the government will distribute rice at subsidised rates to cardholders in 150 select districts in the country, he said. The Food Security Bill also envisages providing nutritious food to children under 14 and lactating mothers.