New Delhi:
The government has launched a Rs. 1.25 lakh crore welfare scheme on Wednesday to give cheap food to nearly 70 per cent of the population, a scheme that's been planned as a centre-piece of the ruling Congress party's plan to win a third term in power.
"The cabinet has unanimously approved the food security ordinance," food minister KV Thomas told reporters. President Pranab Mukherjee will now clear the scheme, which has to be approved by parliament within six weeks of its next session.
By using an executive order, the minority government has sidestepped a debate in parliament on the scheme
The ambitious scheme, championed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, will raise the annual food subsidy spending by 45 per cent.Under the scheme, rice will be available at Rs. 3 a kilogram, and wheat at Rs. 2 a kilogram. The monthly supply ranges from three to seven kilograms per person, depending on their level of income.
Last month, the Prime Minister had asked senior ministers to make one last effort to win over the opposition, which had said the scheme must be debated in Parliament. A key ally, Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, had opposed the option of using an ordinance.
However, Sharad Pawar, who is Agriculture Minister, and heads an important constituent of the ruling coalition, was brought on board after early reservations against the ordinance.
The push for the ordinance was reportedly based on suggestions from the Election Commission that state elections will be announced by September 22. That means the model code of conduct will kick in, which prohibits the government from announcing any big policies that could impact voting.
The government has in the past expressed its concern over the main opposition party, the BJP, causing a paralysis of the next Parliament session, as it did during the last, demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister over alleged corruption.
"The cabinet has unanimously approved the food security ordinance," food minister KV Thomas told reporters. President Pranab Mukherjee will now clear the scheme, which has to be approved by parliament within six weeks of its next session.
By using an executive order, the minority government has sidestepped a debate in parliament on the scheme
The ambitious scheme, championed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, will raise the annual food subsidy spending by 45 per cent.Under the scheme, rice will be available at Rs. 3 a kilogram, and wheat at Rs. 2 a kilogram. The monthly supply ranges from three to seven kilograms per person, depending on their level of income.
Last month, the Prime Minister had asked senior ministers to make one last effort to win over the opposition, which had said the scheme must be debated in Parliament. A key ally, Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, had opposed the option of using an ordinance.
However, Sharad Pawar, who is Agriculture Minister, and heads an important constituent of the ruling coalition, was brought on board after early reservations against the ordinance.
The push for the ordinance was reportedly based on suggestions from the Election Commission that state elections will be announced by September 22. That means the model code of conduct will kick in, which prohibits the government from announcing any big policies that could impact voting.
The government has in the past expressed its concern over the main opposition party, the BJP, causing a paralysis of the next Parliament session, as it did during the last, demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister over alleged corruption.
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