Food Security Bill 2013 Rajya Sabha has approved an ambitious plan to subsidise food for two-thirds of the population. The Lok Sabha passed the controversial bill last month. It will now go to President Pranab Mukherjee for approval to become law. The bill will guarantee 5 kg of rice, wheat and coarse cereals per month per person at Rs 3, 2, 1, respectively. Millions live below the poverty line and many children are malnourished. The scheme is likely to cost 1.3 trillion rupees ($19.7bn; £12.6bn) every year. At Rs 1,30,000 crore government support, the food security programme will be the largest in the world. It would require 62 million tonnes of foodgrains. India will now join the select league of nations that guarantee majority of its population foodgrains. Related articles: thehindu/news/national/huge-fund-outlay-for-food-security-to-raise-fiscal-deficit-india-inc/article5064621.ece bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17336028 news.in.msn/business/an-illusion-of-food-security in.reuters/article/2013/08/29/india-rating-moodys-idINDEE97S05S20130829
Posted on: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 05:32:45 +0000