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India launches huge cheap food programme ahead of election | India launches huge cheap food programme ahead of election |
(about 3 hours later) | |
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. | |
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 union cabinet has approved the food security ordinance unanimously," Food Minister KV Thomas told reporters after the cabinet meeting. | |
He said the measure would be sent to India's president for approval later on Wednesday, meaning it will come into law immediately. But it must eventually be ratified by parliament. | |
Malnutrition | |
The ambitious National Food Security Bill is being called one of the world's largest welfare schemes. | |
It 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. | |
But the scheme is intended to combat hunger - despite impressive economic growth in recent years, India still struggles to feed its population. It has more malnourished children than any other country in the world. | |
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. |
But there are many economists who question how India can fund the expensive scheme, which will see the country's annual food subsidy bill double to more than 1.3 trillion rupees ($23.9bn; £15.8bn). The government insists money will not be a problem. | |
Opponents of the scheme also criticise the method of delivering the food - via India's notoriously corrupt and inefficient state-owned cheap food ration shops. | |
Many politicians criticised the move to push through the bill as an ordinance rather than putting it to a vote by MPs. | |
The government says it 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. | 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. |