Govt may implement part of Food Bill before Parliament nod

“Since it will take time to pass the draft bill,why cannot we start implementing the proposal on BPL families in the draft bill now,” he noted.

Thomas said the step will help the Central as well as the state governments to gear up for implementation of the proposed bill,once it is passed by the Parliament.

“It will also improve the lifting of food-grains provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS).”

Thomas informed that he will meet Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on August 16 on this issue and hoped that a final decision would be taken in the next two months. Under the draft of the proposed food bill,which has already been cleared by the empowered group of ministers,the government plans to a legal right over 7 kg of wheat/rice to per person falling under BPL categories instead of the current practice of allocating the quota on the basis of per family.

The minister said that the government is also considering to provide foodgrains to about 8 crore BPL families as against 6.52 crore families now as Planning Commission is likley to increase the number of beneficiaries under BPL.

Earlier,the minister said that the centre will soon start the consulation process with the state governments on the draft Food Bill.

“We will at the earliest start the consultation process with the states. The law ministry has already vetted the draft bill and the same has been communicated to the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,” Thomas said.