Government revised Food bill and sends to Law ministry for review

The Government has revised the Food bill and sent to the Law Ministry for vetting which later will be moved to the Cabinet. According to the original bill, introduced in December 2011 in the Lok Sabha, the government had proposed giving 7 kg of wheat (Rs 2/kg) and rice (Rs 3/kg) per month per person to 'priority households', while at least 3 kg of food grain at half of the government fixed support price was proposed for the 'general' households.

Talking to media K.V. Thomas said, "We have accepted most of the recommendations of the Parliamentary panel. The revised bill has been sent to the Law ministry for vetting. After we receive its comments, we will place the Bill before the Cabinet".

The Minister also said that the government would move amendments to incorporate changes as suggested by the panel and some states instead it will not withdraw the existing bill. "We have accepted panel's recommendation to do away with priority and general classifications of beneficiaries and provide uniform allocation of 5 kg food grains (per person) at fixed rates to 67-70 per cent of the country's population," Thomas said.

The 2.43 crore poorest of poor families under the Anthodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) would continue to get supply of 35 kg foodgrains per month per family, the Minister said. The Food ministry is working closely with the Planning Commission to finalise the criteria for excluding 30-33 percent of population from the benefits of the Bill, he added. "The Planning Commission's formula for exclusion of population will be given to the states. On that basis, states will be allowed to include or exclude beneficiaries," Thomas said, adding the Centre has taken into account the state governments' views in the revised Bill.