Bihar taking steps for implementation of food ordinance: CM

Supporting the food security ordinance, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said his government is taking steps for its implementation but felt bringing it after discussion in Parliament would have been a better option.

'It would have been better if the ordinance had come after proper discussion in Parliament. But, now there is no such option and an ordinance has come and the state government will take steps for implementation of Food laws,' he told reporters.

The chief minister said that food and civil supplies, urban and rural development departments have been told to prepare the ground for implementation of food ordinance in the state.

JD(U), he said, has been for the food security legislation in 'principle' and had given some suggestions in the draft legislation.

'Had the Bill come up for discussion in Parliament, JD(U) could have raised these issues,' he said.

Among the suggestions given by Bihar government were that the cost of implementation of the Food Security Bill be footed by the Centre entirely, setting up of a BPL Commission for identification of beneficiaries and a seven-member monitoring committee, including one from minority community, two women and OBC and SC&ST.

The Centre is allocating foodgrains for 65 lakh beneficiaries under the PDS scheme to Bihar but the state government survey put the number of beneficiaries to 1.45 crore.