The legislation will also be used to bring about broader systemic reforms in the public distribution system, Thomas said while addressing a meeting of major foodgrain consuming states here.
The minister asked state governments to improve the public distribution system in a bid make food available to needy people.
The union government recently allocated an additional five million tonnes of foodgrain each for below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL) families. The allocation has been made at subsidised rates but the offtake so far is only around 50 percent.
Thomas urged state governments to “lift these additional allocation in full and distribute to the targeted beneficiaries”.
The monsoon session of parliament begins Aug 1.
Published 26 July 2011, 09:37 IST