JOIN US'Akki sante will be extended to district centres'
Minister for Food and Civil Supplies H Halappa told reporters on Saturday that rice will be sold in 10 kg, 25 kg and 50 kg bags.
Akki Sante is an effort by the government to extend succour to people in the wake of price rise of food items, including rice. The Food and Civil Supplies department is selling Sona Masuri rice (three varieties) by directly procuring from rice mill owners. Rice is being sold at Rs 20, Rs 25 and 28 per kg price, which is around Rs 10 less per kg compared to the open market rate.
Response positive
The department, the Minister further said, has already organised the Sante in Tumkur and Bangalore, and the people’s response has been very encouraging. The department has sold around 716 quintals of rice on the first day of the Sante in Bangalore. It will be organised for one month, he added.
He said a plan is on the cards to organise the Sante in a big way. Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy has offered a piece of land where the Sante can be held. If the place is found to be suitable, a big Sante will be organised there soon, he added.
The department has detected a large-scale fake ration cards (BPL) in Bellary recently. As many as 18,732 fake cards have been found, he said.
Fake ration cards
An individual has been found to have two ration cards in two different names and addresses. This came to light as the department has started affixing photograph on the ration cards. So far, photographs have been affixed to 1.70 lakh ration cards in the State, he said.
Halappa said supply of ration to the fake card holders has been stopped as a first step. Strict action will be taken against them after consulting the Chief Minister, Halappa added.