Karnataka: QR codes at fair price shops to facilitate Indira kits’ distribution

Bengaluru: The state government has decided to place a QR code, scanning which ration card holders will be given the Indira (Integrated Nutrition and Dietary Initiative for Revitalising Annabhagya beneficiaries) food kit. 

The Indira kit is issued in lieu of the 10kg of rice that beneficiaries were entitled to under the Anna Bhagya scheme. The Indira kit comprises toor dal, sunflower oil, sugar and salt, besides 5kg of rice. 

This was one of the decisions taken during a meeting on the Anna Bhagya scheme chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. 

The distribution of 1.25 crore Indira kits each month costs an estimated Rs 466 crore. As per estimates, 18,628 tonnes of toor dal and 12,419 tonnes each of sunflower oil, sugar and salt are needed each month. During the meeting, the CM is learnt to have directed officials to ensure that good quality toor dal is provided in the food kits. 

“Adequate quality and quantity of food materials needs to be ensured. There should not be any room for complaints and the scheme has to be implemented transparently,” Siddaramaiah told the officials. It was further decided that the food kits must reach fair price shops by the 10th each month.

Anna Bhagya is one of the five guarantee schemes that the Congress pledged to implement in the run-up to the 2023 Assembly elections. Originally, the scheme entailed distribution of 5kg of rice in addition to the 5kg of rice provided under the National Food Security Act, 2013. 

However, the government initially provided 5kg of rice and Rs 170 in cash instead of 5kg rice following  the Union government’s decision banning the sale of rice in the open market.

In February, when the Centre agreed to sell rice, the state began providing 10kg rice to each person in a family with a BPL card. In October, the government switched to the distribution of Indira kits.