JOIN USRural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil said on Wednesday that his views on ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme had been “misinterpreted.”
Speaking at the launch of ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme, Patil said all that he meant was that people should be self-respecting and self-sufficient.
Patil, at a function in Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, was reported to have said that the scheme would make rural populace dependent on State largesse.
The minister said the State government was contemplating providing jowar and ragi to the people of North Karnataka and Old Mysore region, respectively, under the scheme.
“People whose staple food is roti or chapati are finding it difficult to purchase wheat/jowar. They have demanded that wheat or jowar be provided instead of rice,” Patil said. He said the demand had been placed before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a decision would be taken soon.
Mafia grip
Meanwhile, speaking at the launch function in Tumkur, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T B Jayachandra said that the department of Food and Civil Supplies was in the grip of the mafia.
He said there were many hurdles in reaching the government schemes to the people.
Jayachandra, who is also the district in-charge minister, said that electronic weighing machines had been introduced on a pilot basis in Tumkur district and that officials should implement it effectively.
Take on IT firms
Revenue Minister V Sreenivas Prasad, speaking at the launch of the scheme in Mysore, said that software companies in the State had remained oblivious to the plight of poor.
He was reacting to the remarks of former Infosys HR Head Mohandas Pai on the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme.
Likening the software companies to the British and East India Company, Prasad said the firms had set up shop “only eyeing the profits”.
The State government is only accountable to the people and not to any individuals. The sole purpose of the scheme is to bring the poor to the mainstream of the society,” he added.