SHILLONG, July 20 � The Congress has begun publicity of the Food Security Bill, which envisions distribution of foodgrains at a highly subsidised price, terming the policy as a �game-changer� ahead of Parliamentary elections scheduled next year.
Haryana Industries and Commerce Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala arriving here today, said that the policy would be implemented by all State Governments in letter and spirit in the next six months.
Under the Food Security Bill, both BPL and APL families would get five kg of rice at the rate of Rs 3 per kg. It is estimated that the scheme would cover over 82 crore people in the country and would cost the Central exchequer Rs 1, 24,747 crore for the annual supply of 72.6 million tonnes of foodgrains.
The Food Security Bill was tabled during the Budget Session of Parliament, but could not be taken up for discussion. Although the Bill is yet to be passed by the Parliament, an Ordinance was signed by President Pranab Mukherjee on July 5. �Every State of the country would have to implement the provisions of the Scheme in the next 180 years,� Surjewala said.
The Haryana Minister said that any State Government which does not implement the provisions of the scheme will have to pay �food security allowance� to every person entitled to get the benefits of the scheme.
In Meghalaya, about 22 lakh, out of the 29 lakh population will fall under the provisions of the scheme. The State Government will then decide on the remaining seven lakh people, he added.
Surjewala also said that the Bill would help in plugging the loopholes in the present Public Distribution System, stating all computer stations in the country would be interlinked which would streamline the present system.
