NAC may finalise suggestions on food security bill today

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): The National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi is expected to finalise its recommendations on food security bill on Wednesday.

The meeting is also likely to take up the issue of the much-delayed communal violence bill.

The issue of universal entitlement of foodgrains under the ambitious Food Security Bill has remained a bone of contention in the NAC so far.

The issue was intensely debated at the meeting of the NAC on July 1 with prominent agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan making a strong pitch for extending food subsidy to all citizens.

The Food Security Bill is one of UPA Government's ambitious plans, however, the Bill is pending from sometime.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi had sought improvements in the draft bill cleared by an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM).

The Bill seeks to provide legal right to the poor to get rice or wheat at Rs. three per kilogram.

The NAC meet is coming in the backdrop of food inflation hovering around 17 per cent.

The 14-member NAC was re-constituted on June 1 and is expected to advise the Government on various programmes. (ANI)