The Centre has decided to include the Scheduled Tribes as a category that will, by law, be provided subsidised food grains through the public distribution system under the proposed National Food Security Bill.
The final draft also provides for supply of “ready cooked hot breakfast” to eligible school children in addition to the mid-day meals under the Integrated Child Development Scheme. Highly placed sources told The Hindu that that the Union Cabinet would consider the Bill at its meeting on Tuesday.
The Food Ministry has already sent its draft for approval of the Cabinet, after which it will bring the controversial Bill to Parliament in this session. The Bill proposes food grain entitlements to up to 75 per cent of the rural population and up to 50 per cent of the urban population.
* STs, by law, can avail food grains through PDS
* Bill propose entitlements for 75 p.c. rural population