Bihar's food subsidy to double: Ramesh

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh Sunday said Bihar's food subsidy and foodgrain allocation would be doubled under the National Food Security Bill.

"Bihar's food subsidy will increase from Rs.5,500 crore to Rs.11,500 crore and allocation of foodgrain will increase from 28 lakh tonnes to 56 lakh tonnes," Ramesh said at a press conference here.

The minister, who is here to attend a Congress party function, said Bihar will benefit the most under the bill.

He said the public distribution system (PDS) in the state was in bad shape.

"Bihar's population is more than Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra but PDS shops are less than the two states. That itself indicates its poor story," he said.

"Now, it is high time to bring a change in the PDS network in Bihar to implement the food security bill in a proper manner," he said.