Countdown begins for 'Anna Bhagya'

Dist to supply addl 8,000 MT of rice; close to six lakh BPL card holders to be benefitted

The district administration is all set to implement ‘Anna Bhagya’ rice scheme on July 10, a first of the populous scheme to be implemented by Congress led State Government. The party in its poll manifesto, had made the  promise to give 30 kg of rice at the rate of Re one per kg to every BPL card holder in the State.

In Mysore district alone, there are close to six lakh BPL card holders and the office of deputy director of Food and Civil Supplies has sought an estimated eight lakh tonnes of rice to be distributed under the scheme every month.

In the last three months, there has been a surge in applicants for ration cards recorded at 60,000 till now. Majority among them are for BPL cards. However, during the corresponding period last year, the number of applications was 1.23 lakh.

Deputy director of Food and Civil Supplies Kumuda Girish told Deccan Herald, apart from the existing 10,000 metric tonnes, an additional eight thousand metric tonnes of rice would be distributed. At present, four to five kg of rice is given per unit (persons). If a family has four persons, it will be up to 20 kg. Once the scheme is implemented (four and above), it will be 30 kg of rice per card.

The only constraint identified earlier, was the space to stock the additional quantity of rice. It has been addressed by procuring extra space at the already in use warehouses. In Mysore city, the godown was at APMC Yard in Bandipalya. Additional space has been procured in the existing building. Likewise, in majority of the taluks in the district, available space at existing godowns at APMCs have been taken to stock the rice.

In Mysore, there are 1,057 fair price shops catering to about six lakh BPL card holders including 50,000 of Anthyodaya Anna Yojane (AAY) the facility given for poorest of the poor. Among them, the city has 266 shops having 1.24 lakh card holders, followed by Nanjangud - 133 shops and 92,000 card holders; T Narsipura - 133 shops and 74,000 card holders; H D Kote taluk - 124 shops and 71,000 card holders; Mysore taluk - 123 shops and 72,000 card holders; Hunsur - 105 shops and 62,000 card holders; K R Nagar - 90 shops and 54,000 card holders; and Periyapatna-83 shops and 48,000 card holders.

To make it a hassle-free process for both the officers and the beneficiaries, prior meetings have been conducted with the officers involved in the task. On Saturday too, a meeting of food inspectors had been convened at the office of deputy commissioner.