19/12/2011
Keeping UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's promise, the much anticipated Food Security Bill which is the Congress President's pet project was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Sunday. It seeks to guarantee the right to food to over 60 per cent of India's population. The Bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament this week.
It's being billed as the most ambitious program of the UPA after the Employment Guarantee Scheme.
In rural areas up to 75% of the people will be covered by the Bill while in urban centres, it will cover up to 50% of the populace.
The Bill seeks to provide 7 kg of rice and wheat per month per person to priority households at Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg, respectively. Persons under the general households will get at least 3 kg of rice and wheat at 50% of the minimum support price.
The Bill could not pass muster when the Cabinet met last Sunday with some UPA allies like Sharad Pawar questioning the sustainability of a programme which would increase food subsidies to almost Rs 95,000 crore.
But before the Cabinet met, there were protests outside the Prime Minister's residence with some civil society groups demanding a universal roll out of the scheme than a targeted one.
The Bill is likely to be introduced in the current session of Parliament and can be sent to the Standing Committee for further perusal. But for the Congress, preparing for another round of electoral battle in five states, including Uttar Pradesh in 2012, it could well be a part of its poll agenda.
