By IANS,
New Delhi : Food Minister K.V. Thomas Thursday expressed the hope that the food security bill would be passed in the budget session of parliament in February-March 2012.
Speaking to reporters outside parliament, the minister said the bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha Thursday, would help the states, and all apprehensions expressed by various sections would be looked into.
“The bill will help the states, we will look into the concerns expressed by various quarters. It should get passed in the budget session,” Thomas said.
The minister also said the bill would put an additional burden of Rs.21,000 crore to Rs.23,000 crore on the central government.
Asked about the grievance redressal mechanism, the minister said that aspect would be looked into by the government.
The bill promises 75 percent of rural population and 50 percent of urban households the right to 7 kg foodgrains per person per month, at Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Rs.1 per kg for coarse grains to the priority beneficiaries.