Minister of State for Women and Child Development and Kannada and Culture Umashree has said that owners of public distribution system (PDS) outlets should be honest and have integrity for the Anna Bhagya scheme to be successful.
She was speaking after launching the Anna Bhagya scheme, under which BPL families and Antyodaya Anna Yojana card holders will receive 30 kg of rice a month at Re. 1 a kg.
“Providing rice to the poorer sections of society is the government’s commitment. We are now translating our pre-poll promise into reality. The success of the Anna Bhagya scheme largely depends upon the commitment, honesty and integrity of the PDS outlet owners and bureaucratic machinery,” she said.
The Minister said, “As many as 2,16,650 BPL card holders and 54,124 Antyodaya card holders in the district will receive rice at 706 PDS outlets. Over 86,185 quintals of rice and 3,274 quintals of wheat are required every month and around Rs. 5 crore is required for the scheme,” she said.
The Minister alleged that the BJP government had reduced the quantity of foodgrains distributed through the PDS.
“Earlier, the Congress government had provided 28 kg of rice every month to poor people at subsidised rates. But, the BJP government displayed its ‘anti-poor attitude’ by reducing the quantity,” she said.
The Minister appealed to rice mill owners to hand over their share of levy rice.
“The scheme will be a grand success in Raichur provided the rice mill owners hand over their share of levy rice.”
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner S.N. Nagaraju warned owners of PDS outlets of action if they were found to be corrupt. He also warned those in the State machinery of action if they were found helping such owners. Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat Gnana Prakash, Superintendent of Police S.B. Bislalli and elected representatives of the district were present.
