Like MGNREGA, Food Security will empower people assures Ambika Soni

Senior Congress leader Ambika Soni said here on Monday that the Food Security bill will empower a massive amount of the population like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Speaking to reporters after an event here today, Soni defended the UPA-led government's controversial food security bill.

"The Congress party policies are aimed at ending the dole mentality. Earlier, MGNREGA and now the food security scheme-both are aimed at empowering people," Soni said here.

Fourteen Congress-led states are expected to roll out the UPA's food security scheme from August 20, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had held consultations with chief ministers of all Congress-ruled states on July 13, where she asked them to efficiently implement the food security scheme in "letter and spirit."

President Pranab Mukherjee signed the ordinance on the Food Security Bill on July 5, with the aim of providing food grains every month to two-thirds of the nation's population at highly subsidized rates.

Political parties have sharply criticized the promulgation of the ordinance, calling it undemocratic and demanding that the Food Security Bill should be debated in both Houses before being passed.

The bill aims to provide 5 Kg of food grains per person per month at a subsidized rate from the State Governments under the targeted public distribution system. It is set to be the largest food welfare scheme in the world.