Civil society groups have come together to reject the draft national food security bill recently approved by an empowered group of ministers (EGoM).

Writing to the prime minister and his council of ministers, members of the Right to Food Campaign have criticised the draft bill calling it “a complete mockery of the idea of food security for all and dilutes even existing entitlements obtained through the supreme court.”

The letter accuses the UPA government of betraying the expectation of the aam admi and instead of increasing the investment in the schemes related to food security, in order to reduce the unacceptably high rates of malnutrition and hunger in India it has cleared a draft which minimises government's obligations, restricts people's entitlements and is devoid of any accountability.

“The bill interprets food security only as distribution of cereals and cooked meals and is completely silent on pulses, millets and oil,” the letter said.

The letter is attached below.