India's food subsidy has already crossed the Rs 40,000 crore mark in the first six months of the current fiscal, Parliament was informed today.
"Food subsidy released... As on October 3, 2010, is Rs 40,832.77 crore," Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food K V Thomas informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
The subsidy provided by the government on food in the previous three years, starting from 2007-08, stood at Rs 31,259.68 crore, Rs 43,668.08 crore and Rs 58,242.45 crore, respectively.
The government provides subsidies on essential food items to the poor through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and different welfare schemes.
