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| India parliament likely to debate food programme | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| India's parliament has begun its key monsoon session where the government will seek to push through a giant programme to provide subsidised food to two-thirds of the population. | |
| The food security ordinance has to be ratified by the parliament within six weeks of its first sitting, otherwise it will lapse. | The food security ordinance has to be ratified by the parliament within six weeks of its first sitting, otherwise it will lapse. |
| More than 30 bills are expected to be taken up for passing into law. | More than 30 bills are expected to be taken up for passing into law. |
| They include key bills on reforms in insurance and pensions. | They include key bills on reforms in insurance and pensions. |
| The last few sessions of parliament were frequently disrupted by opposition MPs protesting against corruption and the government's reforms plans. | |
| Ahead of the opening of the session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought the cooperation of opposition parties to make it "constructive and productive". | Ahead of the opening of the session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought the cooperation of opposition parties to make it "constructive and productive". |
| Ambitious programme | Ambitious programme |
| "I sincerely hope all sections of the house will cooperate in making this a very productive, constructive session," Mr Singh said over the weekend. | "I sincerely hope all sections of the house will cooperate in making this a very productive, constructive session," Mr Singh said over the weekend. |
| One of the key bills which will be taken up for passing into law is the ambitious National Food Security Bill, which will cost 1.3 trillion rupees ($23.9bn; £15.8bn) a year, and is being called one of the world's largest welfare schemes. | One of the key bills which will be taken up for passing into law is the ambitious National Food Security Bill, which will cost 1.3 trillion rupees ($23.9bn; £15.8bn) a year, and is being called one of the world's largest welfare schemes. |
| Under the new law, the government will provide 5kg of cheap grain every month to nearly 800 million poor people. | Under the new law, the government will provide 5kg of cheap grain every month to nearly 800 million poor people. |
| 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. |
| Last week's controversial decision by the government to create a new Telangana state out of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh is also likely to be debated during the monsoon session. | Last week's controversial decision by the government to create a new Telangana state out of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh is also likely to be debated during the monsoon session. |
| Telangana, with a population of 35 million, comprises 10 of Andhra Pradesh's 23 districts. | Telangana, with a population of 35 million, comprises 10 of Andhra Pradesh's 23 districts. |
| There have been protests after the announcement and ruling Congress party legislators have resigned in protest. | There have been protests after the announcement and ruling Congress party legislators have resigned in protest. |
| Some political parties have also sought an amendment to the right to information law to keep them out of its ambit. | Some political parties have also sought an amendment to the right to information law to keep them out of its ambit. |
| Last month, India's transparency watchdog the Central information Commission said six national parties will come under the law's ambit, a move they have resisted. | Last month, India's transparency watchdog the Central information Commission said six national parties will come under the law's ambit, a move they have resisted. |
| The monsoon session is expected to take up 32 bills for consideration and voting into law over a period of 16 sittings. It will end on 30 August. | The monsoon session is expected to take up 32 bills for consideration and voting into law over a period of 16 sittings. It will end on 30 August. |