This Article is From Dec 07, 2010

PM convenes meeting to discuss food security bill

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of senior ministers today to discuss the recommendations of the National Advisory Council (NAC) on the Food Security Bill.

The meeting would be attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Home Minister P Chidambaram along with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and head of PM's Economic Advisory Council C Rangarajan.

Last month, the NAC headed by Sonia Gandhi had handed over a "concept paper" on the Food Security Bill to the Prime Minister.

Singh had asked his Economic Advisory Council to go through the document and send its comments by December 20.

Sharad Pawar met Pranab Mukherjee on Monday night, ahead of the meeting.

In its efforts to help the government fast track the process, the NAC drafted a framework for the Food Security Bill which was presented before the Council on November 26.

The Working Group on the bill will carry out "intensive discussion" on the 40-page document on December 10.

In the meantime, NAC expects the feedback from the PM's Economic Advisory Council and will incorporate the changes and
suggestions made by it.

The NAC hopes to finalise the draft bill during its next meeting on December 21.

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