The National Food Security Bill was moved in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid disruptions.
Moving the Bill, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister K.V. Thomas said wide consultations were held among political parties, State Governments and other stakeholders on the “landmark legislation” of the United Progressive Alliance.
The Government has decided to move 70 amendments to the Bill. Thomas told
“I am hopeful that the discussions will be concluded and the Bill will be passed on Tuesday,” Thomas said.
He said the amendments will make the framework of the Bill simpler, provide more flexibility to States in its implementation and to address some of the concerns raised by them.
“There would be only one category of beneficiaries now, with uniform entitlement of five kilograms per person per month,” Thomas said.
He said the entitlements of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor will, however, be protected at 35 kg per household per month.
“The work of identification of eligible households is proposed to be left to the States/UTs, which may frame their own criteria or use the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data,” Thomas said in the Lok Sabha.
The debate on the Bill started with Congress member Sanjay Nirupam supporting the Bill. The Trinamool Congress, too, supported the Bill, but suggested several amendments.
The Opposition parties alleged that the Bill was brought to deviate people’s attention from the corruption scandals surrounding the Congress Ministers.
DMK’s Parliamentary Party leader, T.R. Baalu, said his party was opposed to the passage of the Bill in its present form and without any discussion.