President Pranab Mukherjee signed Ordinance on Food Security

President Pranab Mukherjee signed the ordinance on food security on 5 July 2013 which seeks to give legal rights to 67 per cent of the population over subsidised grains every month.

Now, with the presidential consent, the bill will be presented before the Parliament when it convenes for the Monsoon Session.

The Government had issued the ordinance to give nation's two-third population the right to get 5 kgs of foodgrains every month at highly subsidised rates of 1-3 Rupees per kg amid political opposition.

The food security arrangements will be the largest in the world after implementation, with the government spending estimated at one lakh 25 thousand crore rupees annually on supply of about 62 million tonnes of rice, wheat and coarse cereals to 67 per cent of the population.

The Food Security Bill was tabled during the budget session of Parliament, but was not taken up for discussion because of opposition-led disturbances of proceedings arising out of scam-related allegations.

Ordinance to implement Food Bill Approved by Union Cabinet