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BPL families to get rice at Rs. 2 a kg

BHUBANESWAR: With the possibility of early polls growing by the day, the Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government on Monday took a major step forward with an eye on the votes of the rural poor.

The State government declared that starting from August 1, it will provide 25 kg of rice per month to each family living below the poverty line at a rate of Rs. 2 per kg.

“This measure will provide relief to poor people who are suffering in the wake of the rising inflation and price rise,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.

The decision to supply rice to the BPL families at Rs. 2 per kg was taken at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

The provision will also be applicable for the beneficiaries under the Antyodaya Anna Yojna, and the students staying in the hostels meant for tribals.

Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office also said that the benefit of the new scheme would be applicable to the above poverty line (APL) families living in the backward Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) region of the State.

At present the BPL families are getting 25 kg of rice every month at a rate of Rs. 6.30 per kg.

The measure was likely to benefit over 50 lakh families in the State, according to sources.

The State government would bear the entire the cost of the subsidisation of rice, the government said.

If required the government procure a loan and subsequently make financial provision for the purpose in the supplementary budget, Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai said.

The Opposition, however, was prompt in criticising the government move aimed at wooing the electorate.

“This government never had any genuine concern for the poor. It is a decision aimed at garnering votes,” Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister J.B. Patnaik said.

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