The Union Cabinet may consider promulgating an ordinance for the Food Security Bill on Wednesday.
“This matter is listed for the Cabinet meeting. It may also discuss convening a special session of Parliament for enactment of the law,” a top Government source told Business Line .
The Bill, which is pending in Parliament, aims to give legal rights to 67 per cent of the population over a uniform quantity of five kg foodgrain a month at a fixed price of Rs 1 to 3 a kg.
On June 13, the Cabinet discussed the proposal, but differences forced it to defer its decision. After the meeting, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had said that the Government would like to make one more effort to seek the Opposition parties’ co-operation in passing the Bill in a special session.
It was also agreed that Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde; Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath; and Food Minister K.V. Thomas; would hold talks with political parties on convening a special session of Parliament.
This Bill is facing opposition from the Samajwadi Party, which is supporting the Government from outside. Officially, the Congress said it was up to the Cabinet to decide on what would be the better option – promulgating an ordinance or convening a special session. All political parties, except the Left, are supporting the Bill in its present form.
The report on the Food Security Bill by the Food and Consumer Affairs Standing Committee of Parliament was prepared with just one dissent note by CPI(M) member T.N. Seema.
In fact, Thomas had said that the Government had accommodated almost all suggestions from the standing committee. “We will hold talks with all parties so that the Bill can be debated and passed in Parliament at the earliest,” he said.