EGoM meet tomorrow to discuss National Food Security Act

An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on food will meet tomorrow to discuss the proposed National Food Security law, under which the government plans to provide 25 kg of grain at Rs 3 to below poverty families.

The EGoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, would review the progress made in the proposed Act, a senior official said here.

Issues like, the required quantity and number of families to be covered under the Act will also be discussed in the meeting, the official said.

In Budget 2009-10, Mukherjee announced that the Centre will soon introduce a Bill to enact a Food Security law that will provide 25 kg of rice and/or wheat at Rs 3 to each family below the poverty line-- a key poll promise of the Congress that heads the ruling coalition.

At present, the Centre provides 35 kg of rice or wheat per month to each BPL family. Wheat is supplied at Rs 4.15 per kg while rice at Rs 5.65 a kg to over four crore families living below the poverty line.

A draft Food Security Bill would be put up on the website of the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution for public debate on this issue, Mukherjee had said.