The Ministers’ panel headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee cleared the flagship proposal of the UPA government which will provide foodgrains at a cheap rate to 75 per cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of those living in cities.
Thus 68 per cent of the country’s total population will have the food security. Under the Bill which will give legal right to the beneficiaries for food, a quantity of 7 kg per month per person will be given to the Below Poverty Line people. It will be provided at 3 rupees per kg for rice and 2 rupees per kg for wheat.
The bill after being examined by the Law Ministry would go to the chief ministers and after that will go to Parliament.
Under the Bill which will give legal right to the beneficiaries for food, a quantity of 7 kg per month per person will be given to the ‘priority sector’ (Below Poverty Line).
It will be provided at Rs 3 per kg for rice and Rs 2 per kg for wheat.
For the general category (Above Poverty Line) the food quantity will be 3-4 kg per person.
The rate will be half of the minimum support price which the government pays to farmers.
The Food Security Bill, requiring 51 million tonnes of foodgrains will involve an additional subsidy outgo of Rs 13,000 crore, taking the total food subsidy to Rs 95,000 crore.