Union Minister of State for Food K.V. Thomas on Monday said the Centre was hopeful of passing the National Food Security Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament.
Ater unveiling a plaque for a godown of the Food Corporation of India at Meenangadi in Wayanad, Mr. Thomas said after enacting the Bill, nearly 82 crore people would have access to rice, wheat, and other food grains at a lower price.
The ceremony was inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy via video link.
Mr. Thomas said the Bill would have provisions for nutritional support for pregnant women and children and ensure that ration cards were issued in the name of the female head of families. Under the 12th Five Year Plan, the storage capacity in Kerala was set to increase from 5.13 lakh tonnes to six lakh tonnes, which would be sufficient to meet the distribution needs of four months.
He said two modern wheat silos, each with capacity of 25,000 tonnes, would come up in Ernakulam and Kozhikode. A 25,000-tonne rail godown at Thirunavaya was on the anvil, Mr. Thomas said adding that an 8,000-tonne godown was being considered as part of the Kuttanad package.
In view of transportation delays on the rail network, there was a proposal to move food grains from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Kochi via sea. A ship would carry nearly 20,000 tonnes of food grains, the same as eight trains. Tenders had been invited for the project and a decision was likely within the month, the Minister said.
