Rahul Gandhi urges Congress leaders to take Food security scheme to the masses

New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi termed Food Security Bill a historic legislation and urged the Congress leaders to publicise its import to masses.

In his opening remarks at a meeting of Pradesh Congress Committee presidents and Congress Legislative Party leaders in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said it was for the first time in the history of the country that any government had passed a legislation on the people's right to food.

The Congress leader asked them to disseminate information among the masses about the Bill's significance. As concerns were raised over anomalies in the PDS system, Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence that since the bill gives legal entitlements to people, it will build pressure on the existing institutions and bottom-up changes will happen. "We must first understand the whole thing and then party cadres should help people understand it. Government of India is bringing this bill which will revolutionize the life of people at those strata where people have struggled," added Rahul Gandhi.

Food Minister KV Thomas, in his address said that  a misconception existed among people that Public Distribution System would cease to exist after the Bill was implemented and asked them to dispel the notion. The Bill would plug the leakages existing in the PDS, he said.

Party spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam said Congress had promised the right to food legislation before 2009 elections and it was imperative that "we fulfil the promise before we go to people in next elections"

Rahul Gandhi to meet Congress state chiefs on Food Security Bill

New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will meet all Congress state unit presidents on Saturday in New Delhi to discuss the Food Security Bill. Fourteen Congress-led states are expected to launch the Food Security scheme brought in by Congress-led UPA government at the centre from August 20, which is former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary.

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also had held consultations with chief ministers of all Congress-ruled states on July 13 in which she urged them to expeditiously implement the food security scheme in letter and spirit.

Earlier this month, the government brought in an ordinance that has to be now ratified within six weeks of its tabling in Parliament. The Food Security scheme aims to give cheap food to nearly 70 per cent of the population. The ambitious scheme, championed by Sonia Gandhi, will raise the annual food subsidy spending by 45 per cent. Under the scheme, rice will be available at Rs. 3 a kilogram, and wheat at Rs. 2 a kilogram. The monthly supply ranges from three to seven kilograms per person, depending on their level of income. 

The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme and the Food Security Act are some of the major policies by the present Congress led UPA Governments like the farmers' loan waiver scheme and MNREGA announced during its previous term.