Food security law to be implemented by year-end: union food minister

The much-anticipated food security law would be implemented by the year-end, union food minister K V Thomas said yesterday. The law would give legal rights to poor Indians to buy foodgrains at subsidised rates.

Thomas told newspersons on the sidelines of 2nd Yes Bank-The Hindu Business Line Food and Agri Business Conclave in  that the government would endeavour to enact the Food Security Bill into law in the next session of parliament, the capital.

The latest edition of this conclave focused on supply chain issues and how foodgrains could be delivered at low wastage and low intermediation cost to customers.

The centre's food subsidy bill currently runs into Rs1,09,000 crore and once the law was implemented, the total subsidy component would increase to Rs1,12,000 crore. In the event, the centre wanted to implement the proposed Food Security Bill, the additional commitment would be Rs3,000-4,000 crore. Thomas said, a country like India had the capacity to bear the additional commitment.

The National Food Security Bill 2011 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2011, and under the proposed Bill, every person from 'priority' households would be entitled to receive 7 kg of foodgrains per month.

Every 'general' category person would be entitled to 3 kg of grains at the minimum and the bill provided for supply of rice at Rs3/kg, wheat at Rs2/kg and coarse cereals at Re 1/kg to these households.