Mangalore, July 10: Ramanatha Rai, minister for forest, ecology and environment and district in- charge has inaugurated an ambitious ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme as announced by the congress government in its election manifesto that it will provided rice at Rs 1 per kg for BPL families in the state, symbolically by distributing 30 kgs rice to a family at Town Hall on July 10, Wednesday.
The scheme was launched across the state simultaneously on the same day. While chief minister Siddaramaih inaugurated scheme in Bangalore, the concerned minsters launched the same in their respective districts.
While addressing the gathering, Rai, said in his inaugural speech that this was one of the important decisions we have made in the cabinet meeting to distribute rice @ Rs 1 per Kg to the people below poverty line as promised in the election manifesto. He also added that this scheme will also be launched in a programme to be held at Puttur, Sullia and Belthangady.
He further said that this is one of the unique projects in the entire country and milestone in the history of Karnataka and added, it is the duty of all people to ensure that this scheme is reaches only to the eligible BPL families and not to be misused.
The programme was presided over by JR Lobo, MLA from Mangalore South. Mohiuddin Bava, MLA from Mangalore north, N Prakash, DC, K N Vijayaprakash, CEO, Zilla Panchayat were present on the dais.
JR Lobo in his presidential address said that giving rice at Re 1 was a herculean task for the government as it had to meet the challenges of collecting the rice stock and more importantly, this scheme will put a burden of Rs 4000-plus crore to the government’s ex-chequer.
He further said that in spite of state government’s financial condition was not healthy enough to meet the challenges, government has taken a bold step for the welfare of the poor and credit must goes to chief minister Siddaramaih for undertaking this gigantic scheme of providing rice at Re 1 per kg.
Commending this scheme as a good step to wipe the tears of poor people, Lobo categorically ruled out any politics behind this novel project and it was only in the interest of betterment of the society and wished this scheme runs smoothly without any hurdles.
The central government is also planning to enact food security bill, in case that is implemented there is possibility that this scheme either might stop or might even continue, he added.
M V Raja, taluk manager of Food department proposed vote of thanks and Manjula Shetty compered the programme.
JR Lobo,MLA,Mohiuddin Bava,MLA, N Prakash,DC,Dr Vijayaprakash,CEO,zilla Panchayat,Sharana Basappa,Deputy director of Food and Civil Supplies were present at the programme.
Photo by: Sathish Kapikad.
