The National Food Security Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on August 26, is likely to be taken up by the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The bill aims to provide heavily subsidised food to two-thirds of India's 1.2 billion people.
The bill, championed ardently by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is being seen as a game-changer for the ruling party as it prepares for the 2014 general elections, now months away.
Before the Food Security Bill was passed, Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi highlighted its potential, saying that the House had an opportunity to clear a welfare scheme that would provide subsidized food to nearly 70 percent of the people in India.
"We have a chance to create history with this Bill. So, my humble appeal is that we, as representatives of people, must make this Bill into an Act," she told members of the Lok Sabha.
Stating that a clear message is being sent out today that India is taking care of providing food to all of its citizens, Gandhi said: "We are ensuring that no child will be malnourished. It" an opportunity that we are providing food security to all. It will also ensure a stop to food grain wastage."
The National Food Security Bill is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives a right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices.
The bill has a special focus on nutritional support to the poorest of the poor , women and children. In case of non-supply of foodgrains, the deprived will get a food security allowance.
The bill also provides for grievance redressal mechanism and penalty for non -compliance by a public servant or authority.
