PM to discuss Food Security Bill with leaders

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of senior ministers today to discuss the recommendations of the National Advisory Council (NAC) on the Food Security Bill.

The meeting would be attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and the head of PM’s Economic Advisory Council C Rangarajan.

Earlier, the NAC, headed by Sonia Gandhi, had handed over a “concept paper” on the Food Security Bill to Dr. Singh.

Dr. Singh had asked his Economic Advisory Council to go through the document and send its comments by December 20.

In its efforts to help the government fast track the process, the NAC drafted a framework for the Food Security Bill, which was presented before the Council on November 26.

The working group on the bill will carry out “intensive discussion” on the 40-page document on December 10.

The NAC hopes to finalise the draft bill during its next meeting on December 21.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi had sought improvements in the draft bill cleared by an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM).

The bill seeks to provide legal right to the poor to get rice or wheat at Rs. three per kilogram.

The 14-member NAC was re-constituted on June 1 and is expected to advise the Government on various programmes. (ANI)