Govt to provide subsidised rice, wheat

Scheme to be launched across State from Feb 1

Elections to the BBMP council is scheduled to be held in February. The model code of conduct is already in place.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister H Halappa told reporters on Wednesday that it will be  good quality rice, but not sona masuri variety.

“The Government wants to provide relief to the people in these days of rising prices. The scheme will continue till the prices of essential commodities stabilise,” he stated.

The department was selling sona masuri rice to people at affordable price a few months ago in what it called as Akki Sante (rice shandies).

But the department discontinued organising Santes owing to pressure from the rice mill owners.

The mill owners refused to supply sona masuri rice to be sold in Santes as they were incurring lose.

Sona masuri is widely used rice variety by people, especially in urban areas.
Under the new initiative, every individual will be provided with a maximum 25 kg rice at a time. One has to show an identity card to avail themselves of the benefit.

Asked how the Government would implement the new plan in Bangalore with the model code of conduct for BBMP polls being in force, the Minister said: “In Bangalore, we will continue implementing Akki Sante. Hence, the code will not come in the way.”

Halappa further said the department has 40,000 metric tonnes of rice stock and 61,000 metric tonnes of wheat, enough to implement the new plan.

However, he refused to divulge how the department would ensure the supply of rice and wheat under the new initiative.