Issues like nutrition and welfare of disadvantaged sections are likely to be in focus when the National Advisory Council discusses the food security bill in its next meeting July 1, a member of the council said Monday.

'The welfare of the deprived sections needs to be addressed in the bill,' NAC member and social activist Harsh Mander said Monday.

Headed by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the recently reconstituted NAC held its maiden meeting June 10. The council is expected to play a critical role in formulation of the food security bill.

The council, in its last term has the credit of largely contributing to the formulation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

'The food security bill has to be taken in a larger perspective. Malnutrition is a very critical issue which needs to be addressed,' Mander told IANS.

'Nutrition needs of deprived groups like the migrant labourers, below poverty line population and other such groups should should be addressed. We will try to focus that these issues are addressed properly,' he said.

Asked about probable solutions to address nutrition concerns, Mander said large scale programmes to provide balanced diet to the poor at low rates is needed.

'We can have programmes similar to langar system which can give balanced diet at very cheap rates,' he said.