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| India launches huge cheap food programme ahead of election | India launches huge cheap food programme ahead of election |
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| The Indian government has launched a giant programme to provide subsidised food to two-thirds of the population. | The Indian government has launched a giant programme to provide subsidised food to two-thirds of the population. |
| The Food Security Ordinance will provide 5kg of cheap grain every month to nearly 800 million poor people. | The Food Security Ordinance will provide 5kg of cheap grain every month to nearly 800 million poor people. |
| Ministers were criticised for passing the measure as an ordinance, after failing to win parliamentary support. | Ministers were criticised for passing the measure as an ordinance, after failing to win parliamentary support. |
| Critics say the plan is a political move to win votes and will drain India's finances. Supporters say it will help reduce poverty. | Critics say the plan is a political move to win votes and will drain India's finances. Supporters say it will help reduce poverty. |
| The ambitious programme is being called one of the world's largest welfare schemes. | The ambitious programme is being called one of the world's largest welfare schemes. |
| But there are many economists who question how India can fund the expensive scheme which will see the country's food subsidy bill double to more than 1.3 trillion rupees ($23.9bn; £15.8bn). The government insists money will not be a problem. | But there are many economists who question how India can fund the expensive scheme which will see the country's food subsidy bill double to more than 1.3 trillion rupees ($23.9bn; £15.8bn). The government insists money will not be a problem. |
| The food security bill was an election promise made by the ruling Congress party and, correspondents say, its implementation will help the party in general elections due next year. | The food security bill was an election promise made by the ruling Congress party and, correspondents say, its implementation will help the party in general elections due next year. |
| India has more malnourished children than any other country in the world, and this scheme is intended to combat hunger. | India has more malnourished children than any other country in the world, and this scheme is intended to combat hunger. |
| The bill proposes to provide a kilo of rice at three rupees (six cents; four pence), wheat at two rupees and millet at one rupee. | The bill proposes to provide a kilo of rice at three rupees (six cents; four pence), wheat at two rupees and millet at one rupee. |
| The measure will apply to 75% of Indians living in rural areas and 50% of the urban population, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says. | The measure will apply to 75% of Indians living in rural areas and 50% of the urban population, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says. |
| Supporters say it will go a long way in reducing poverty, especially in parts of the country which are worse off than sub-Saharan Africa, our correspondent reports. | Supporters say it will go a long way in reducing poverty, especially in parts of the country which are worse off than sub-Saharan Africa, our correspondent reports. |
| Many politicians had criticised the move to push through the bill as an ordinance rather than putting it to a vote in parliament. | Many politicians had criticised the move to push through the bill as an ordinance rather than putting it to a vote in parliament. |
| The government says it had made several efforts to make sure the bill was discussed, but it was not debated amid disruption in parliament. | The government says it had made several efforts to make sure the bill was discussed, but it was not debated amid disruption in parliament. |
| The ordinance will be put before parliament to be ratified within six weeks of its first sitting, the government says. Last month, the government said a special session could be called to pass it into law. |