Sonia Gandhi launches Food Security Scheme in Delhi, reaches out to poor

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who rolled out the United Progressive Alliance's ambitious Food Security Scheme here on Tuesday, said the Central Government will ensure that the right people get the benefits and that there are no flaws in the distribution process.

Gandhi, who launched this scheme in Delhi on the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 69th birth anniversary, said the nation still has people who don't get food to eat, and added that children suffer from malnutrition.

"We have to be responsible for lives of the poor and that is why the Food Security Bill was introduced. So, now we have legally ensured food for the poor of the country," she added.

Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister K.V. Thomas had introduced the National Food Security Bill in Lok Sabha earlier this month to replace the National Food Security Ordinance, 2013 which was promulgated on July 5.

The National Food Security Bill is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives a right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices.

The Bill has a special focus on nutritional support to the poorest of the poor, women and children. In case of non-supply of foodgrains, the deprived will get a food security allowance.

The Bill also provides for grievance redressal mechanism and penalty for non -compliance by a public servant or authority.

Under the plan, the government will sell subsidised wheat and rice to 67 percent of its 1.2 billion population.