The Empowered Group of Ministers (eGoM) Thursday night cleared the draft Food Security Bill, which envisages that every Below Poverty Line (BPL) family in the country will be entitled to 25 kg of wheat or rice per month at the rate of Rs.3 per kg.
Coming out of the meeting, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters that the bill will "hopefully" be taken up by the cabinet next week.
The group, which is headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, also decided to recommend to the cabinet increase in the quantity of foodgrain for the 11.5 crore Above Poverty Line families through ration shops.
"Two items which will be taken to the cabinet are, enhancing the APL quota and the draft Food Security Bill," Pawar said.
President Pratibha Patil, in her address to the joint session of parliament last year, had said the government would enact a National Food Security Act which aims to provide every BPL family 25 kg of wheat or rice per month at the rate of Rs.3 per kg.
The United Progressive Alliance-led Congress government had also promised it in its election manifesto.