Scheme for food-grains deferred again

Bhopal, Apr 13: The State Government due to some unknown reasons has deferred the launch of the Mukhya Mantri Annapurna Yojana from April 15 in the State capital through which the poor could procure wheat and rice at reduced rates. The launch has now been scheduled for April 25. In the beginning it as scheduled on April 8. The matter was pending due to the model code of conduct enforced during the Betul by-elections.

People living Below Poverty Line (BPL) would get wheat and rice at reduced rate of Rs 3 per kg and Rs 4.50 per kg respectively as and when the scheme is launched. The foodgrains could be procured from Fair Price Shops (FPS) run by the Government. After the State capital, the scheme was to be launched on April 16 in the divisional headquarters of Rewa, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Indore and Sagar by organising camps for BPL beneficiaries. The launch has been deferred till further revised orders. A large number of persons had also gathered due to lack of information on April 8 the previous date of launch at the Lal Parade ground.
Large-scale preparations were underway for this ambitious scheme of the State Government in the interest of the poor. An allocation to the tune of Rs 160 crore has been made in the Budget for giving subsidy at the rate of Rs 2 per kg to BPL families on the present consumer rate of Rs 5 per kg of wheat and Rs 6.50 per kg of rice. This scheme is being implemented on the initiative of Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan for 41.25 lakh BPL families, which could not be covered by Antodaya Anna Yojana. Under this scheme, each BPL family (holder of blue ration card) would be provided 20 kg of foodgrains per month. Wheat would be provided at the rate of Rs 3 per kg and rice at the rate of Rs 4.50 per kg from ration shops. At present 35 kg foodgrains are being provided per month to the beneficiaries of Antodaya Anna Yojana. These include wheat at the rate of Rs 2 per kg and rice at the rate of Rs 3 per kg.