The National Food Security Bill, Right to Entitlement to Food and Nutrition

Overview

On December 22, 2011, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution introduced the National Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament). On January 05, 2012, the Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution which is expected to submit its report to the Parliament in April 2012. The Bill which aims to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity marks a shift from the current welfare approach to a right-based approach to address the problem of food security.