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The Karnataka government on Wednesday launched its much-awaited ambitious programme to supply 30 kg of rice at Re one per kg to nearly 10 million below poverty line (BPL) families across the state. The scheme would cost Rs 4,400 crore to the state exchequer annually.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the scheme titled “Anna Bhagya” by distributing 30 kg rice to three families at a grand function organised in the city. The district-in-charge ministers unveiled the same at district headquarters across the state.
Though the scheme, which Congress promised in its pre-poll manifesto ahead of May 5 Assembly elections, was originally planned to be implemented from June 1 had to be postponed twice due to problems relating to sourcing of rice at lower rates.
In view of the huge cost involved, the scheme has come under criticism from Opposition parties.
Siddaramaiah in his address at the launch function said that urgency was required while implementing any pro-poor programmes as the poor were hungry every day. “Can the government delay pro-people schemes,” he asked.
He also refuted the Opposition’s claims that the scheme is being implemented in haste in view of the Lok Sabha polls. “We haven’t taken this decision in view of Lok Sabha polls but in view of Congress commitment of helping the needy,” he said.
On criticism that the beneficiaries would become lazy, he said “If that is so, have people of Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh become lazy. Their states also have introduced similar schemes. These are baseless and politically-motivated statements.”
The scheme will benefit 9.8 million BPL cardholders in the state. A family with only one person will get 10 kg and two-member family would get 20 kgs and 3 members and above families would get a maximum of 30 kg per month.
The state requires 284,000 metric tonnes of rice every month, while it is currently getting only 177,000 tonnes a month.
The balance quantity will be procured from Chhattisgarh and Food Corporation of India at market prices, Siddaramaiah said.The chief minister also announced that the government would provide free milk to school children up to 10th standard to fight malnutrition among the students. Each student would get 150 ml milk per day for three days in a week, he said.
