Indian lower house backs food plan bill
Published:Tuesday | August 27, 2013 | 9:29 AM
India's lower house of parliament has passed a controversial Food Security Bill aimed at providing subsidised food to two-thirds of the population.
The government launched the programme last week by executive decree, but requires parliamentary approval to make it permanent.
Under the plan, which still needs to be approved by the upper house, 800 million poor citizens would receive 11 pounds of cheap grain every month.
The legislation will cost the government 1.3 trillion rupees per year
Supporters of the legislation argue it is a big step towards eradicating the widespread hunger and malnutrition plaguing India.
However, critics call the subsidised food plan as wasteful and bad for the economy.
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