The Finance Minister Sh. P. Chidambaram has set apart an amount of Rs. 10,000 crore, over and above the normal provision for food subsidy, towards the incremental cost that is likely under the National Food Security Act. Presenting the budget of 2013-14 in Lok Sabha today, the Finance Minister hoped that the National Food Security Bill will be passed by Parliament as early as possible as Food Security is as much a basic human right as the right to education or the right to health care.

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DSM/AL/NV/23

(Release ID :92715)

Food security as a basic human right - budgetary provision set aside for NFSA incremental costs pending enactment. The central budget proposes a distinct allocation to meet anticipated incremental fiscal burdens arising from enactment and implementation of the National Food Security Act, set apart in addition to ongoing food subsidy provisions, and frames subsidised food access as part of food security as a basic human right comparable to education and health care.