Right to Food Act: Indian Government's new policy

The Government of India has decided to introduce "Right to Food Act" for the welfare of the people. This was disclosed by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday.

''After the Right to Information Act, Right to Work Act and Right to Education Act, the Government will unveil the Right to Food Act,'' Mr Chidambaram added.

The Centre was working on this and it would soon be introduced, he said while attending a private function in the city.

Stating that the UPA Government was committed to providing quality education, he said disbursement of loans and scholarships to students, especially Dalits, had reached ''unprecedented levels''.

In 2008-2009, education loans worth Rs 25,000 crore were disbursed to poor students and this figure was expected to go up to Rs 45,000 crore during 2009-2010, benefiting about 25 lakh students, he added.

The UPA government, he said, was pursuing a strong economic policy, reflected in allocation of special component plan, which increased from Rs 6,500 crore in 2006 to about Rs 22,000 crore in 2009.

- Asian Tribune -