UPA to discuss food security bill on Monday

The much awaited Food Security Bill is expected to reach a higher level on Monday as the Congress Party will discuss the bill in its UPA Coordination Committee meet.

The decision was taken on Saturday at the Congress Core Group meet at the Prime Minister's residence.

Meanwhile, UPA Government has an option to get the Food Security bill passed either in a special session of the parliament, or to implement through an ordinance or executive order.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh were present during the meeting.

Other Union leaders including Ahmed Patel, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, Sushil Kumar Shinde were also present in the meet. Food Minister K V Thomas and Congress Incharge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad were the special invitees for the meet.

The National Food Security Bill, 2011, considered to be the world"s largest experiment in ensuring food security to poor, has been a key project of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

It hopes to meet the food needs of 75 percent of rural households and 50 percent of urban households. The Bill classifies all entitled households as "general" and "priority".

At least 46 percent of rural households and 28 percent of urban households would be designated as "priority".

Every person belonging to a "priority household" will be provided with seven kilograms of grain per month, comprising rice, wheat and coarse grain. Rice will be provided at Rs.3, wheat at Rs.2 and coarse grain at Rs.1 per kilogram.

Others belonging to the "general category" would be entitled to not less than three kilogram of grain per month at a rate not exceeding 50 percent of the minimum support price.