be brought to Parliament shortly for approval. The draft bill entitles
75 percent of the population to highly subsidised food grains. It
provides for people living Below Povery Line getting rice at three
rupees a kilogram and wheat at two rupees a kilogram. The Bill proposes
that general households will have the right to 20 kilograms of rice. But
the price should not exceed 50 per cent of minimum support price paid
to farmers.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister, Prof. K.V. Thomas in an
exclusive interview to All India Radio that Government may have to
provide a food subsidy of one lakh crore rupees after the Food Security
Bill becomes a law. At present, it is providing a food subsidy of
eighty-two thousand crores. He expressed hope that the food inflation
will come down in view of their record production. Prof. Thomas said
that the hike in petroleum prices will also have its impact on essential
commodities. The Minister asserted that a mechanism needs to be
developed to provide reasonable price to farmers and affordable price to
consumers. Prof. Thomas said that a campaign is being launched to make
farmers aware of the post-harvest operations. This,he said, is important
for stopping the wastage.
In reply to a question, Prof. Thomas said our public distribution
system has been working very efficiently. Government is giving
sufficient food grains and sugar to distribute through PDS, but it is up
to the states how they manage it.
The full interview of Prof. Thomas can be heard tonight on Delhi "D" from 9.15 p.m.