Cabinet clears ordinance to implement food security bill

The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to promulgate an ordinance on the National Food Security Bill that seeks to give legal rights to 67 per cent of the population over subsidised grains every month.

The food security programme when implemented will be the biggest in the world with the government spending estimated at one lakh 25 thousand crore rupees annually.

Terming the ordinance as historic, Congress spokesman Ajay Maken said the government resorted to promulgation of ordinance, as there was no unanimity during the discussions with the opposition parties.

On June 13, the Cabinet had deferred the proposal amid differences on the issue.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet that the government will try to call a special session of Parliament to debate and pass the Bill, which aims at providing the legal right to subsidised food to nearly 67 percent of India's population.

The Food Security Bill was tabled during the budget session of Parliament, but could not be taken up for discussion because of opposition-led disruptions of proceedings arising out of scam-related allegations.

The Food Security Bill is aimed at giving legal rights to 67 per cent of the population for a uniform quantity of 5 kg foodgrains at a fixed price of Rs 1-3 per kg through ration shops.