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| India President Pranab Mukherjee due to approve cheap food programme | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Indian president is due to approve a giant programme to provide subsidised food to two-thirds of the population. | |
| Pranab Mukherjee is expected to sign into law the food security ordinance approved by the cabinet two days ago. | |
| 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. |
| The ordinance will still have to be ratified by the parliament within six weeks of its first sitting, otherwise it will lapse, authorities say. | |
| Opposition parties have criticised the government for passing the measure as an ordinance, after failing to win parliamentary support. | Opposition parties have criticised the government 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 National Food Security Bill, which will cost 1.3 trillion rupees ($23.9bn; £15.8bn) a year, is being called one of the world's largest welfare schemes. | The ambitious National Food Security Bill, which will cost 1.3 trillion rupees ($23.9bn; £15.8bn) a year, is being called one of the world's largest welfare schemes. |
| It was an election promise made by the ruling Congress party and its implementation is expected to help the party in general elections due next year. | It was an election promise made by the ruling Congress party and its implementation is expected to 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 and has more malnourished children than any other country in the world. | But the scheme is intended to combat hunger - despite impressive economic growth in recent years, India still struggles to feed its population and 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 measure will apply to 75% of Indians living in rural areas and 50% of the urban population. |