Food security bill: Lok Sabha rejected 305 opposition amendments

Government sources said Rs.5,000 crore may be added to the cost after the recent amendment.



The bill, part of the Congress manifesto for the 2009 polls, is expected to bring electoral benefits, just as the rural job plan, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, is credited with the second term that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won in the 2009 polls.

The Food Security Bill was first introduced in parliament in December 2011. It remained with a standing committee of parliament for a year.

Later the government brought an ordinance for the same which has been replaced by the bill in parliament now.

The bill is now expected to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha next week as procedural issues would take a few more days, said the sources.

Once passed by both the houses, it would go to the president for his assent before it becomes a law.