Reported By: Rohini Swamy
Last Updated: June 19, 2023, 21:18 IST
The Karnataka govt plans to implement the Anna Bhagya Scheme by July 1. (PTI File)
Irked with the Union authorities’s determination to cease the FCI from promoting meals grains to states, the Karnataka Congress will launch a protest led by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru on June 20
In aid for the newly fashioned Karnataka authorities, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab authorities has supplied to present the rice required for implementation of the Congress’s second assure in the state — the Anna Bhagya scheme. The scheme goals to present 10 kg of meals grains per particular person per 30 days to all beneath poverty line (BPL) households in Karnataka.
A letter from Prithvi Reddy, Karnataka State Convenor of AAP, acknowledged that he had mentioned Karnataka’s necessities with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, who has reacted positively and agreed in-principle to provide the required rice to cowl the scarcity.
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The Congress authorities in Karnataka plans to implement the scheme from July 1, however has confronted a number of obstacles, together with scarcity of meals grains inside the state.
‘DESPITE POLITICS & ROADBLOCKS…’
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a recent assault on the central authorities and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of making an attempt to sabotage the scheme and taking part in politics with meals grains supposed for the poor and needy. “We are actually making an attempt to implement the Anna Bhagya Scheme by July 1 regardless of the politics and roadblocks,” mentioned the CM.
Despite reaching out to different states for help, sources reveal the authorities has solely managed to safe a provide of 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice, falling wanting the month-to-month requirement of two.28 lakh metric tonnes.
Neighbouring states akin to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have additionally communicated that they’ve restricted rice inventory.
Chhattisgarh, one other Congress-ruled state, has 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice, which might solely cowl one month of the Anna Bhagya scheme in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah mentioned, “We are taking quotations from the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF) and Kendriya Bhandar to see how a lot they will present.”
‘CENTRE HALTED SALE OF WHEAT, RICE FROM FCI’
Karnataka confronted one other setback when the Union authorities halted the sale of wheat and rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to state governments. The Union Food Ministry acknowledged that this determination was made to management inflationary tendencies and keep ample inventory ranges in the Central pool.
Siddaramaiah expressed his frustration, highlighting that the FCI initially agreed to present rice, however later denied the provide. “The FCI on June 7 mentioned they’ll present rice. Five days later, on June 12, they agreed to present seven lakh tonnes of rice. I made a name to the deputy basic supervisor of FCI and he agreed. But on June 14, we received a letter denying the provide. Isn’t this pure politics and being insensitive to folks,” requested Siddaramaiah.
Congress has all the time saved its guarantees and can achieve this even in the case of Gruha Jyothi scheme implementation, so our folks in Karnataka don’t have anything to fear about. We stand by our promise of implementing the scheme, and our folks have to apply for it. There isn’t any rush, however…
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) June 19, 2023
PROTESTS ON TUESDAY
Irked with the Union authorities’s determination to cease the FCI from promoting meals grains to states, the Karnataka Congress will launch a protest led by Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar in Bengaluru on June 20 (Tuesday). The native management may even maintain protests in district headquarters throughout Karnataka.
So who will Karnataka flip to for the meals grain scheme for BPL households in Karnataka?
KH Muniyappa, state meals and civil provides minister, mentioned a call is but to be taken.
“We are taking a look at all permutations and mixtures and are additionally hopeful of discovering a beneficial answer. We have made a promise that we intend to hold,” he mentioned, hinting that together with rice, the state might present different grains to compensate, till the scarcity subject is resolved.
