Centre to examine K'taka govt demand on extra PDS rice supply

Food Minister K V Thomas today said the Centre will examine the newly-formed Karnataka government's demand to provide additional quantity of rice to BPL families in order to fulfill its election promise.

In its election manifesto, the Congress had promised supply of 30 kg of rice at Rs 1 per kg via public distribution system (PDS) to 98.17 lakh BPL families in the state.

"Normal allocation of foodgrains via PDS will continue to the state. Above that, we will look into it," Thomas told reporters after a meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah here.

Siddaramaiah, who is in Delhi on his first visit after assuming Office on May 13, met the Food Minister and sought the support of the Centre to implement the election manifesto and requested for supplying more quantity of rice instead of wheat to BPL families in the state.

At present, each BPL family gets 35 kg of wheat and rice every month through ration shops. Rice is given at Rs 5.65 per kg, while wheat at Rs 4.15 per kg.

The Karnataka government will incur additional subsidy of Rs 460 crore per annum for supplying 30 kg of rice at Rs 1 per kg to each BPL family every month.

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.