After a 90-minute meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on the draft Food Security Bill, the government today said it needs more time for an in-depth study on the mechanism to provide legal rights for the poor to foodgrain at Rs 3 a kg.
The EGoM, headed by the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, will meet again within three weeks by which time the Planning Commission has been asked to give the exact definition of the people below poverty line.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said as many as 22 countries in the world provide legal food security to the poor and the government would study their systems as well.
When asked whether the EGoM or the Prime Minister's Office received any letter from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Pawar said "I have not received any letter."