Over 44 % of the central government's annual revenues go towards meeting its subsidy bill, according to a report prepared by the finance ministry on the subject. The report "central government subsidies in India', tabled in Parliament by finance minister P Chidambaram, says almost 88% of the fiscal deficit goes into subsidy, estimated at Rs 1,15,824 crore in 2003-04. But over 58 % of these subsidies did not reach the poor population. The report has therefore asked for sweeping changes, especially in food, fertiliser and petroleum subsidies.