Lok Sabha fails to pass food Bill

The cause was also not helped as other members raised issued like Chinese incursion and coalgate scam, forcing adjournment of the House for the day

The government, which introduced amendments to the landmark Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, could not get it passed, as the Opposition stalled proceedings in the House over the killing of Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan and other issues.

Food Minister K V Thomas moved amendments to the National Food Security Bill, originally introduced in Parliament in December 2011 but no discussion on it could take place as the Opposition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, persisted with protest over Singh’s death.

Other members raised issued such as the recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh and the coal block allocation scam, forcing adjournment of the House for the day without passage of the measure.

However, Food Minister Thomas expressed hope about passage. “We are confident,” he said.

The proposed food Bill, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's ambitious social welfare programme, aims to provide a legal right over subsidised foodgrains for 67 per cent of the population. Around 55 amendments have been proposed in the Bill.  

Major changes include doing away with priority and general classifications of beneficiaries and providing uniform allocation of five kg foodgrains (per person) at fixed rates of of Rs 3 (rice), Rs 2 (wheat) and Rs 1 (coarse grains) a kg to 67 per cent of the country's population.  

Protection to 24.3 million of the poorest of poor families under the Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) to supply of 35 kg foodgrains a month per family would continue.

That apart, nutritional support to pregnant women without limitation are among other changes proposed in the Bill.  

At the proposed coverage of entitlement, total estimated annual foodgrains requirement is 61.23 million tonnes and is likely to cost the exchequer Rs 1,24,724 crore.