The Rajya Sabha has taken up the National Food Security Bill, 2013, as passed by the Lok Sabha, for consideration and passing. Moving the Bill, Food Minister Prof. K V Thomas said, the Bill will provide food and nutritional security to people at affordable prices to lead a dignified life.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition, Arun Jaitley charged the government with the misuse of power to issue an ordinance. Moving a Statutory Resolution disapproving the Ordinance promulgated on 5th of July this year, he asked the Minister to justify the urgency in issuing such an ordinance when the Parliament session was scheduled to begin within 30 days. Mr Jaitely said, most of the states have food security schemes which are superior to the proposed food security Bill in terms of extent of beneficiaries, quality and nutritional value of food grains.

Giving statistics, the BJP leader said, the number of beneficiaries under the existing schemes is more than the projected numbers under the Bill. Quoting the budgetary provisions, Mr Jaitley said, the government is spending more money on the existing schemes than the proposed Food Security Bill. Terming the Bill as mere repackaging of existing food schemes, he said, it could have been better if the states were allowed to carry on their own schemes.