Indian ruling party expressed on Thursday that an immense new food scheme for the poor was a known to be a game-changer to combat endemic malnutrition, yet analysts expressed concern regarding the programme's implementation as well as the cost. Furthermore, the Cabinet issued an executive order late on Wednesday initiating the National Food Security Bill, which is anticipated to be approved by the president later on Thursday and enter into effectiveness well sooner than elections succeeding year.

The populist programme, which the government says will add 230 billion rupees (S$5 billion) per year to the country's existing 900-billion-rupee food subsidy bill while it offers subsidised grains to an approximated 810 million people. In fact, it has been impelled vigorously by the head of the ruling Congress party's Sonia Gandhi, who has laid emphasis in assertion on honouring a 2009 election solemn promise irrespective of the concerns regarding the forceful contact on government finances as well as the prices of food.

(AW:Samrat Biswas)