Under the scheme, selected families will get 35 kgs of foodgrains at the rate of Rs three per kilogram.

Gulbarga is the first district in Karnatka out of the four chosen under the scheme where it was launched, Kharge said.

Chitradurga, Davanagere and Bidar are other other three districts selected under the scheme aimed at benefitting poor, he said.

The Centre, he said, has chosen 21 districts under the programme across the country.

Kharge later inspected the Gulbarga Airport construction work and requested the state to provide 40 acres to extend the runway to facilitate operation of bigger aircraft.