The Plan panel yesterday made a presentation to the Home minister P Chidambaram on the structure of proposed food security law that promises to supply adequate quantity of wheat or rice at 3 rupees per kilogram to all BPL families every month. Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia is believed to have discussed with home minister the infrastructure requirements and financial burden for providing cheap food grain to each below the poverty line (BPL) family at the highly discounted rate . Mr. Ahluwalia is also likely to meet the other important members of the Empowered Group of ministers (EGoM) before the formal meeting of the high-powered group to finalise the structure of the Food Security Bill.<br/><br/>Apart from Chidambaram, the members of the EGoM include food and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, Defence minister AK Antony, Rural Development minister CP Joshi and commerce and industry Minister Anand Sharma. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee heads the EGoM.<br/><br/>The EGoM had earlier asked the Planning Commission to finalise the estimates of the poverty and consider the feasibility of increasing the allocation of food grains to 35 kg per BPL family from 25 kg proposed under the law.
News On AIR | May 11, 2010 8:53 PM
Montek meets Chidambaram on food security Bill