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Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday endorsed the Food Security Bill, but added that her party will make certain suggestions when the ordinance is discussed in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
"It is imperative that the Food Security ordinance is discussed in the House before it becomes a Bill. The Food Security ordinance will give essential necessities to the poor at subsidised rates. We believe that bringing the bill into Parliament is the correct decision. We will support the bill, but will also make some suggestions in Parliament so that the poor people can benefit to the fullest," Mayawati said.
Mayawati, however, criticised the UPA-led government for the delay in bringing the Food Security Bill into Parliament, saying that it should have been implemented two-and-a-half years ago.
"Our Party is in support of the scheme but this scheme should have been implemented about two-and-a-half years ago when the Supreme Court had suggested to the Central Government that since the country has surplus foodgrains that are going waste, they could be used to feed the poor at subsidized rates. Though it has come late, it is a correct decision," Mayawati added.
Before the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had appealed to the opposition parties for their cooperation during the session and deemed the Food Security ordinance the "most important" ordinance that the Parliament has on its hands.
"But all that we expect fully is to ask the opposition to cooperate with the government in passing the essential legislative work, which is the primary responsibility of Parliament. Of all the ordinances, five or six ordinances which are before the Parliament and most important is Food Security Ordinance," said Dr Singh.
"And I sincerely hope that the Parliament in its wisdom will find it productive, find it justified to convert that Ordinance into a Bill and an act of Parliament," he added.
Fourteen Congress-led states are expected to roll out the UPA's food security scheme from August 20, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had held consultations with chief ministers of all Congress-ruled states on July 13, where she asked them to efficiently implement the food security scheme in "letter and spirit."
President Pranab Mukherjee signed the ordinance on the Food Security Bill on July 5, with the aim of providing foodgrains every month to two-thirds of the nation's population at highly subsidized rates.
Political parties have sharply criticized the promulgation of the ordinance, calling it undemocratic and demanding that the Food Security Bill should be debated in both Houses before being passed.
The bill aims to provide 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month at a subsidised rate through the State Governments under the targeted public distribution system. It is set to be the largest food welfare scheme in the world.
