Cash instead of five kg rice: Govt decides to give ₹170 per month

The Karnataka cabinet has taken an important decision to give money instead of five kg of rice as one of the pre-election guarantees of the Congress is difficult to distribute free rice.

This decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Food Minister Muniyappa informed about this.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, K.H. Muniyappa, we made a lot of efforts for extra rice as ordered by the CM. We met the Union Minister. There is a lot of stock near the center. Give us rice, we asked if we will give money. However, he said that he would not be able to give it.

The central government is giving five kg of rice, apart from this, the Congress had announced to give an additional five kg of rice. But Karnataka state has not received 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice till now due to FCI's refusal to provide rice to the states last month. As the Anna Bhagya Yojana will be implemented from July 1, each BPL card holder will be given ₹34 per kg for a total of ₹170 per five kg, Food Minister KH Muniyappa said.

We are giving money as an alternative system only till we get rice. Muniyappa said that after getting the rice, 10 kg of rice will be given under the Annabhagya Yojana.

Explaining about the funding, Minister Muniyappa said that for the implementation of this project (alternative funding) it will be around ₹700 crore. He explained about the cabinet decision that this is just an alternative system, in the future the government will get rice through tender and give additional five kg of rice through Anna Bhagya as said by the Congress.