Food Bill on Sunday, says KV Thomas

With the government deferring a decision on the Food Security Bill as talks have been inconclusive, Food Minister KV Thomas today said Cabinet is likely to meet this Sunday to discuss the important legislation threadbare.

However, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the views of some states still need to be taken on board before clearing the draft Bill and hoped that in the next 8-10 days, a final discussion would take place.

"A special Cabinet is coming on Sunday, that is what I understand. That we will discuss that matter because this is a major Bill, discussions have to take place little more threadbare," Thomas told reporters here on the sidelines of a function on procurement.

Speaking on the sidelines of same function, Pawar -- who heads the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), an important ally of the UPA government -- emphasised that state governments need to be taken into confidence, as they would implement the proposed Act.

"The government is committed to bring the Food Security Bill. This issue is a serious issue. Its implementation is a big responsibility for the state governments. We here will take the decisions, but it is the state governments who would be implementing it," he said.

"The Centre is of the opinion that it has to take states into confidence while taking decisions on the Food Security Bill. So the discussions on this issue are on. I feel that in the next 8-10 days, a final discussion on this issue will take place and Cabinet will have a common view on it," he added.

Cabinet had yesterday deferred a decision on the Food Bill -- a pet project of Congress President Sonia Gandhi -- as discussions remained inconclusive.

The proposed Act seeks to give a legal entitlement to subsidised foodgrains to 64 per cent of the country's population.

Asked if the Bill will be introduced in this session of Parliament, Pawar said the government intends to do so, but emphasised on the need to consult a few states.

"If the talks are over on time, then maybe the Bill will come in this session," he added.

When asked about Pawar's comment that the views of some states need to be taken before approving the Bill, Thomas said: "We will talk on all the issues."

Under the proposed law, beneficiaries have been divided into priority households and the general households. Priority households are those below poverty line families in the existing public distribution system, while general households are above poverty line families.

In rural areas, up to 75% of the people will be covered by the Bill, with at least 46% of them from the priority households category. In urban centres, up to 50 per cent of the populace will be covered, of which 28% will be from the priority category.

The Bill seeks to provide 7 kg of rice and wheat per person per month to priority households at Rs3 and Rs2 per kg, respectively. Persons under the general households would get at least 3 kg of rice and wheat at 50% of the minimum support price.

Once the law is implemented, the food subsidy bill is expected to rise to about Rs95,000 crore from Rs63,000 crore in the last fiscal, while the foodgrains requirement would go up to 61 million tonnes from 55 million tonnes.

Under the present PDS, the government provides 35 kg of grains per month to 6.52 crore BPL families at Rs 4.15 and Rs 5.65 per kg, respectively. Furthermore, About 11.5 crore APL families get between 15 and 35 kg of wheat and rice per month at Rs6.10 and Rs 8.30/kg, respectively.