The Government estimates that the total annual food subsidy bill on account of the Food Security Bill would be Rs 79,800 crore. This is excluding expenses on various other components under the scheme. The Government introduced the food security Bill in the Lok sabha on Thursday.
This Bill provides for not less than 7 kg of food grains per person per month for priority households. It is said that 46 per cent of the all rural households and 28 per cent of all the urban households shall be designated as priority households. These families will get rice at Rs 3 per kg, wheat Rs 2 per kg and coarse grains at Re 1 per kg.
It is said that not less than 75 per cent of all rural households and at least 50 per cent of urban households are entitled to get food grains at subsidised price. This will include priority and general households.
It also proposes to provide not less than 3 kg of food grains per person per month for general households. Pricing under this category will not exceed 50 per cent of the minimum support price for wheat, coarse grain and rice.
For the identification of priority and general households, the Central Government will prescribe the guidelines. This will include exclusion criteria also. The list of such households will be displayed in the public domain.
The proposed Bill will have special provisions for pregnant and lactating women. Any unemployed pregnant or lactating woman will get maternity benefits of Rs 1,000 per month for a period of six months. Not only this, they will get take rations or nutritious and freshly cooked meals free of charge during pregnancy and six months thereafter. This food will be provided by the local anganwadi.
The Bill also talks about nutritious take-home rations and/or freshly cooked meals throughout the year through the local anganwadi for all children in the age group of 0-3 years. On the other hand, all children in the age group of 3-6 years will get freshly cooked meals in the local anganwadi for at least 300 days in a year.