Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended Entitlement of Food for 67 percent Population

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs in January 2013 suggested the entitlement of the food under the National Food Security Act to the 67 percent population leaving behind the 33 percent people who are tax-payers and have pucca houses of their own.

The Priority (BPL-below poverty line) and general (APL-above poverty line) are to be replaced with the exclusion and inclusion categories. The beneficiaries would be identified by the state government for the public distribution system of the subsidized rice and wheat.

As per the plans of the standing committee the Union Government would be distributing the subsidized food grains to the 67 percent population that includes 75 percent rural and 50 percent urban population.

This act was sent to the Parliamentary Panel for its reference in December 2011 after it was tabled in the Lok Sabha and was followed by the demands of the Food Security Bill.

Parliamentary Committees

The Parliamentary committees are constituted to take care of the legislative businesses of the Parliament and it comprises of several committees.

Among these the two main committees are:

•    The Ad hoc Committee
•    The Standing Committee

Ad hoc Committee – these are appointed for specific purpose and they are dissolved after the task assigned to them is completed and the final report is submitted. These committees are the joint and select committees over the Bills and are appointed for specific purposes like Committees on the Draft Five Year Plans, Railway Convention Committee, Hindi Equivalents Committee and more.

The Standing Committee – Each house of the Indian Parliament are supported by standing committees, which includes the Committee on Petitions, the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee, the Committee of Privileges and more.