The government has prepared a draft National Food Security Bill. It provides for coverage of upto 75 per cent of the total rural population and 50 per cent of urban population.

This was informed in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today by the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister K V Thomas. He said that, there are also some priority households under the targeted Public Distribution System.

The households are proposed to be provided seven kgs of food grains per person per month at prices decided by the government. The proposed per kg prices for rice is 3 rupees, for wheat 2 rupees and for coarse grains it is one rupee.

The Minister said the proposed bill is based on suggestions received from various stakeholders and recommendations of the National Advisory Council and Export Committee headed by the Chairman of Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.