Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) today approved the draft National Food Security Bill, 2011 which aims to make provision of food support to people facing hunger a duty of the state.
With the draft bill prepared by the Working Group on Food Security being legally vetted by a government law officer, the Council will now be sent it to the government. The decision approving the draft bill was taken at the meeting of the NAC today. The bill guarantees subsidised foodgrains to at least 90 per cent of rural households, and 50 percent of urban households.
According to the bill, 46 per cent of the rural and 28 per cent of urban households categorised as ‘priority group’ are entitled to receive foodgrains at 7 kg per head at Rs three, two and one for wheat or rice or millets respectively. 49 per cent of the rural and 22 per cent of urban households categorised as 'general group' are entitled to receive foodgrains at 4 kg per head at not more than 50 per cent of the MSP of the respective foodgrain.