The government may soon pass the National Food Security Bill, despite its failure to get the Bill passed in the Budget session. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the Parliament was adjourned sine die, has said, ‘the National Food Security Bill is a very important legislation for the government and UPA is committed to make this law after considering all opinions.’
However, the bill, which aims to feed 70% of the population, could widen the already inflamed budget deficit next year, thereby increasing the risk to its coveted investment-grade status, since rating agencies have raised concerns over the impact of the subsidy outgo for the Food Security Bill and on the overall subsidy outgo.
Further, Food Minister K V Thomas will look into various angles before taking a call on whether government could bring an ordinance to implement the food security law. However, he agreed that food security cannot be made a legal right through a government or executive notification, therefore, ordinance could not be an option.
The ambitious bill, a priority for Congress President Sonia Gandhi, will raise the annual food subsidy spending by 45% and if passed could fulfill the election promise of the ruling UPA government, which could cost about $23 billion a year.
So far the government made three attempts in the Lok Sabha in the Budget session to get the bill passed. The amendments to the Food Bill, which was originally introduced in Parliament in December 2011, was moved in the Lok Sabha last week.
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