NEW DELHI, May 26: Future course of action on the ambitious National Food Security Bill is expected to be decided this week with government sources not ruling out the option of a special session of Parliament for its passage.
Congress top brass is likely to apply its mind on the way ahead for the landmark bill, which along with Land Acquisition Bill, is seen as a game changer by the ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections which are less than a year away.
Government sources said that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and Finance Minister P Chidambaram will be holding talks this week with other senior Congress leaders for pushing the Food bill, the brainchild of party-chief Sonia Gandhi who is also UPA Chairperson.
The talk in the government circle is that the idea of convening a special session could be thought of in view of the fact that an Ordiance is ‘not a good option’ because legal right cannot be given to beneficiaries through an executive order without approval from Parliament.
Gandhi had only last week appealed to the NDA and other Opposition parties to come together and collectively help the government pass the food security and land acquisition bills.
“These are not partisan issues. It is not a question of government versus the Opposition. These bills affect the lives and livelihood of millions whom we are committed to represent and benefit,” Gandhi had said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also hinted last week that the government would soon chalk out its strategy for early passage of these two key bills.
“We are determined to make it an Act of Parliament. I hope the Opposition will recognise the importance of this and (extend) support,” he said.
A section in the government holds the view that the BJP could be brought on board for the passage of the Food Bill, saying it had never opposed the legislation but sought discussion on it.
Besides the political aspects, the meeting this week will also deliberate on the preparedness of state governments for smooth implementation of Food Bill once it becomes law.
The government had tried to get the Food Bill passed in the Lok Sabha in the recently-concluded Budget session. The debate on the proposed legislation could not be concluded amid the din. The Bill was introduced in Parliament in 2011.
The Food bill aims to give a legal right to a uniform quantity of 5 kg foodgrains at a fixed price of Rs 1-3 per kg via ration shops to 67 per cent of the population.
It also proposes to give legal right on 35 kg foodgrains per family per month to poorest of the poor families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme under PDS.
Foodgrains requirement is expected to be 61.23 million tonnes, while the government’s food subsidy bill is estimated to rise to Rs 1,24,724 crore. (PTI)
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