India cabinet 'to propose food security bill ordinance'
India's cabinet is due to meet amid media reports it will consider an ordinance to subsidise food for two-thirds of the population.
The Food Security Bill proposes to make food a legal right and seeks to provide 5kg of grain every month to some 800 million poor people.
It was tabled in parliament earlier
The ordinance will have to be ratified by parliament within six months for it to become law
in the year but could not be debated.
Correspondents say the government is keen to issue an ordinance to implement the scheme early.
The ordinance will have to be ratified by parliament within six months for it to become law.
India's cabinet meets on Thursday evenings to discuss and approve key policy decisions.
The Food Security Bill was an election promise made by the ruling Congress party and, correspond- ents say, its implementation will help the party in general elections due next year.
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.
Millions live below the poverty line, and many children are malnourished in India.
The scheme is likely to cost 1.3 trillion rupees ($23.9bn; £15.8bn) every year.