Cabinet defers proposed ordinance of food security

The Union Cabinet has deferred decision on promulgating an ordinance to implement the Food Security Bill.

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 Union Cabinet met at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's official 7, Race Course Road (RCR) residence here to discuss issuing of an ordinance to implement the government's ambitious Food Security Bill.

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.

According to political analysts, the Congress, which leads the UPA, considers the Bill as a game changer in the run-up to the next elections.