The Government today expressedits commitment to enact the Food Bill that seeks to providesubsidised foodgrains to poor as a matter of legal right.
"...relentless efforts of farmers coupled with conducivepolicies of the government have resulted in record foodgrainproduction in last two consecutive years...Our foodgrainsposition is, therefore, comfortable...My Government iscommitted to enacting the National Food Security Bill,"President Pranab Mukherjee said.
Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, Mukherjeesaid India had produced a record 260 million tonnes foodgrainslast year and is projected to produce more than 250 milliontonnes in the current year.
Increased production has ensured foodgrains stock toreach 66.2 million tonnes with the government godowns, as onFebruary 1 this year.
The proposed Food Bill, which was introduced in December2011 in Lok Sabha, has been revised taking into considerationthe Parliamentary Panel recommendation and is currently beingvetted by the Law Ministry.
The revised Bill aims to cover around 70 per cent of thecountry's population with a uniform allocation of five kgfoodgrains per person at a fixed rate of Rs 1-3 per kg everymonth through ration shops.
An estimated 62-64 million tonnes of Foodgrains isrequired for implementing the Bill due to which subsidy isexpected to shoot up by Rs 20,000 crore from the current levelof Rs one lakh crore.