'Anna Bhagya scheme has stopped migration in rural areas'

After the state government has implemented the Anna Bhagya scheme, enabling free access to food grains to people of prioritised families, the migrations from rural areas has almost stopped, said Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader. Speaking after the launch of the distribution of additional quantity of rice under Anna Bhagya scheme in the district at a programme in Zilla Panchayat on Friday, he said that people from villages migrated to urban areas in search of work earlier as they did not have any way to earn their daily bread.

But, now, as the government provides them free rice under Anna Bhagya scheme, they can have food even if they do not get the work. Migration of villagers has almost been stopped after the implementation of the scheme, Khader said.

He said that the distribution of additional quantity of rice will come to effect from April. The fair price shops should distribute food grains between the first and fifteenth days of each month. They should not receive food grains from godowns if they are of poor quality. If the fair price shops distribute low quality items, their licences will be scrapped. Vigilance teams have been formed to ensure the proper distribution and the quality of items distributed in the fair price shops, he said.

Khader requested the Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Gram Panchayat members to coordinate with the food and civil supplies department to ensure that the food grains reach needy.

Launching the distribution of additional quantity of rice under Anna Bhagya scheme in the district, District In-Charge Minister B Ramanath Rai said that there may be criticisms that the government has made people lazy by providing them free food grains. But, one has to remember that the scheme has provided the people of prioritised families, with three times of food per day.

Earlier, there were days when people from these families had one time meal in a day. Anna Bhagya scheme is a huge step for hunger-free Karnataka and towards the empowerment of poor and deprived. Karnataka is the first state in the country to give free rice to people, he said.

Zilla Panchayat president Meenakshi Shanthigodu, vice president Kasturi Panja, Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo and food and civil supplies department deputy director Jayappa were present.