ID :
199890
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 21:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/199890
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Govt may implement part of Food Bill before Parliament nod
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The Indian government plans to
sell wheat and rice at Rs 2 and Rs 3 per kg, respectively, to
families below poverty line (BPL) through ration shops even
before the passage of the Food Security Bill in Parliament,
Food Minister K V Thomas said on Monday.
At present, the government provides 35 kg of wheat/rice
in a month through ration shops to 6.52 crore families at Rs
4.15 per kg and Rs 5.65 per kg, respectively.
"We are discussing with the Agriculture and Finance
Ministries to implement now the proposal under the Food Bill
with regard to BPL families," Thomas told reporters here.
"Since it will take time to pass the draft bill, why
cannot we start implementing the proposal on BPL families in
the draft bill now," he noted.
Thomas said the step will help the Central as well as the
state governments to gear up for implementation of the
proposed bill, once it is passed by the Parliament.
"It will also improve the lifting of foodgrains provided
through the Public Distribution System (PDS)."
Thomas informed that he will meet Agriculture Minister
Sharad Pawar on August 16 on this issue and hoped that a final
decision would be taken in the next two months.
Under the draft of the proposed food bill, which has
already been cleared by the empowered group of ministers, the
government plans to a legal right over 7 kg of wheat/rice to
per person falling under BPL categories instead of the current
practice of allocating the quota on the basis of per family.
The minister said that the government is also considering
to provide foodgrains to about 8 crore BPL families as against
6.52 crore families now as Planning Commission is likley to
increase the number of beneficiaries under BPL.
Earlier, the minister said that the centre will soon
start the consulation process with the state governments on
the draft Food Bill.
"We will at the earliest start the consultation process
with the states. The law ministry has already vetted the draft
bill and the same has been communicated to the Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee," Thomas said.
sell wheat and rice at Rs 2 and Rs 3 per kg, respectively, to
families below poverty line (BPL) through ration shops even
before the passage of the Food Security Bill in Parliament,
Food Minister K V Thomas said on Monday.
At present, the government provides 35 kg of wheat/rice
in a month through ration shops to 6.52 crore families at Rs
4.15 per kg and Rs 5.65 per kg, respectively.
"We are discussing with the Agriculture and Finance
Ministries to implement now the proposal under the Food Bill
with regard to BPL families," Thomas told reporters here.
"Since it will take time to pass the draft bill, why
cannot we start implementing the proposal on BPL families in
the draft bill now," he noted.
Thomas said the step will help the Central as well as the
state governments to gear up for implementation of the
proposed bill, once it is passed by the Parliament.
"It will also improve the lifting of foodgrains provided
through the Public Distribution System (PDS)."
Thomas informed that he will meet Agriculture Minister
Sharad Pawar on August 16 on this issue and hoped that a final
decision would be taken in the next two months.
Under the draft of the proposed food bill, which has
already been cleared by the empowered group of ministers, the
government plans to a legal right over 7 kg of wheat/rice to
per person falling under BPL categories instead of the current
practice of allocating the quota on the basis of per family.
The minister said that the government is also considering
to provide foodgrains to about 8 crore BPL families as against
6.52 crore families now as Planning Commission is likley to
increase the number of beneficiaries under BPL.
Earlier, the minister said that the centre will soon
start the consulation process with the state governments on
the draft Food Bill.
"We will at the earliest start the consultation process
with the states. The law ministry has already vetted the draft
bill and the same has been communicated to the Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee," Thomas said.
