Food security ordinance on Cabinet agenda today

The proposed ordinance on food security is likely to be taken up again at a meeting of the Union Cabinet in New Delhi today.

The proposed ordinance on food security is likely to be taken up again at a meeting of the Union Cabinet in New Delhi on Wednesday.

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According to television reports, the cabinet may either consider passing the ordinance or calling a special session of Parliament to pass the national food security bill, which is held up in Parliament.

On June 13, the Cabinet had deferred the proposal amid differences on the issue.

Finance minister P Chidambaram said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet that the government will try to call a special session of Parliament to debate and pass the bill, which aims at providing the legal right to subsidised food to nearly 67% of India's population.

The food security bill was tabled during the budget session of Parliament, but could not be taken up for discussion because of opposition-led disruptions of proceedings arising out of scam-related allegations.

The food security bill is aimed at giving legal rights to 67% of the population for a uniform quantity of 5 kg foodgrains at a fixed price of Rs 1-3 per kg through ration shops.