PUDUCHERRY: In what could be a sign of the UPA goverment going on the defensive over the Food Security Bill, minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, K V Thomas, on Saturday said that the dialogue on the legislation was an ongoing process and that he would meet Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to discuss the State’s reservations. Speaking at the All India Editors’ Conference here, he said that while Tamil Nadu had an “excellent” system of Universal Public Distribution, the State would gain from the legislation as it would reduce the cost at which TN procures rice from the Centre. “Currently, Tamil Nadu is buying rice at `five to `six per kg from the Centre and then distributing it for `one as well as free to different sections. This means the cost burden on the State was `four per kg. When the bill is adopted, TN will get rice at `three per kg from the Centre,” he said.
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