Rajya Sabha Passes Food Bill by Voice vote Monday Sep 2,2013

The Rajya Sabha on Monday Sep 2,2013 approved by voice vote the government’s motion to pass the National Food Security Bill amid chaos and procedural wrangling over Opposition members’ insistence on a vote on their major amendments to the Bill. 

A Statutory Resolution Moved by Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley “disapproving the National Food Security Ordinance (No. 7 of 2013) promulgated by the President on July 5, 2013” was negated. Ninety-two members backed the resolution, while 118 members opposed it

The govt did not move any official amendment, and none of the 237 amendments moved by the Opposition, mainly the BJP, the CPI(M), the CPI, the AIADMK and the Akali Dal, were carried. 

The Bill, which provides 67 % eligible population with the legal right to subsidised foodgrains every month, was passed by the Lok Sabha last week. 

Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries are to be able to purchase 5 kilograms per eligible person per month of cereals at the following prices -

• Rice at Rs3/kg
• Wheat at Rs 2/kg
• Coarse Grains at Re 1/kg

• Minister of State for Food K.V. Thomas responding to the concerns expressed by members said the Central government would work in tandem with the States

• all the suggestions made by members would be followed carefully when rules and guidelines were framed 

• the current allocation of foodgrains to the States was being protected and additional grain would be made available at prices meant for the Above Poverty Line category.

The Food Bill will become a law once the President ratifies it.


Food Security Bill Gets President Assent Thursday Sep 12,2013
Food Security Bill, aimed at giving a legal right on highly subsidised foodgrains to 67% of the country’s population, on Thursday Sep 12,2013 received the President’s nod. “We have received the Presidential assent to the Food Security bill,” Food Minister K.V. Thomas told

The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on Aug 26,2013 while the Rajya Sabha gave its nod on Sep 2,2013

The law will soon be notified in the Govt Gazette, after which it will come into effect