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New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Congress-led UPA government Wednesday expressed hopes of passing the National Food Security Bill in the Budget Session of parliament starting Feb 21 even as the opposition-ruled states opposed its provisions at a meeting here.
The food bill is expected to give right to food to around 67 percent of India's 1.2 billion population.
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While Tamil Nadu sought exemption from the bill, Bihar, Orissa, Punjab and Gujarat wanted the government to modernise the public distribution system (PDS) before implementing the proposed law.
Bihar government's views on the National Food Security Bill, 2011 was expressed by Food minister Shyam Rajak.
Bihar government on Thursday charged the Centre of finalising Food Security Bill without consulting state governments.
Rajak said that the bill will not yield desired results unless and until these short comings are addressed. Razak raised 24 points to highlight lacunae in the draft of the bill.
He claimed that Bihar's views got support from states like Assam, Odhisa and Gujarat also.
Many states expressed differences on the quantity of grains to be given at subsidised rates under the bill and on who would be the beneficiaries.
While states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh wanted universal PDS, Orissa, Kerala and Bihar said the quantity of 5 kg grain per person per month suggested by the parliamentary panel was not sufficient.
The negative aspect of the Food bill is that under it the Centre has the power to decide the plan and choose beneficiary families as per the process suggested by it. Razak said that this would put extra financial burden on states.
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