New Delhi:

United Progressive Alliance's flagship scheme, the Food Security Bill will be taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Opposition parties are likely to move amendments to the bill that proposes to give two-third of the population the right to highly subsidised food. Food Minister KV Thomas said, "This bill will make food a legal right."

On July 5, the Food Security Ordinance was promulgated sparking speculation of early elections and on August 7, 33 days later, the revised Food Security Bill was introduced in the Monsoon Session amidst ruckus. The landmark legislation is believed to be crucial to the Congress party's electoral fortunes and is expected to be put to vote on Monday.

The bill will legally entitle 67 per cent of the population of 5 kilograms per person rice, wheat and millets at Rs 3, Rs 2 and Rs 1 respectively. Poorest of the poor families will continue to receive 35 kilograms per household per month. Under the bill, pregnant and lactating women will get additional Rs 6000. Children between 6 months and 14 years will be entitled to free ration, hot cooked meal.

According to the bill, the existing allocations to states will be protected. The estimated annual food grain requirement is 612.3 lakh tonnes and total expenditure is Rs 1,24,724 crores. The state governments are free to frame their own criteria or use the SECC to identify beneficiaries.

When the Food Bill will come up for discussion and voting in the Lok Sabha, Opposition parties will move amendments basically seeking to improve upon the government's bill. The BJP will push for features of the Chhattisgarh model, that is, increase in the quantity of entitlement, further widen the coverage, and include a nutritional component.

The CPM wants universal entitlement. It also wants sugar, cooking oil and pulses to be included. The BJD will push for household entitlement, more coverage under Antodaya yojana. The Samajwadi Party wants an assured income for farmers, the DMK and AIADMK want their existing allocations to be protected and freedom to implement their schemes and the CPI also wants universal entitlement and fair and remunerative price for farmers.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, "In principle, there should be no opposition. We are trying to improve upon the bill. We hope these amendments are taken seriously."

CPI member in Rajya Sabha said, "The government should be open to amendments moved by the opposition."

Food Minister KV Thomas told the Centre's plan to roll out the food subsidy after the Food Bill is passed by Parliament. He said according to the ordinance state have to implement it with a time frame of six months. "Once the bill is passed there is a time period of 6-12 months. States have enough time for implementation but the basic victory of this scheme depends on the efficiency of the public distribution system. We want commitment from the state government that it will be an efficient full proof distribution," he said.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said they are open for discussion. "By and large everybody will support. An ordinance has been submitted that we will discuss, but if there are certain better suggestions, we are not going to take a view that this is coming from the opposition. Just because of an ordinance, I don't think that all parties should come and just stamp it. Still we are open for discussion," he said.

If not in the Lok Sabha, opposition parties are hopeful of pushing through their amendments in the Rajya Sabha.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com