Congress never promised 10 kg of additional rice, says CM at launch of Anna Bhagya scheme

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday claimed that the Congress had never promised 10 kg of additional rice, but only a total of 10 kg rice which includes the 5 kg being given by the central government.

“As announced earlier, we will be giving 5 kg of additional rice. After making all attempts to procure additional rice, we decided to pay Rs 170 per head to beneficiaries’ accounts directly. Today, we have launched the Anna Bhagya scheme in two districts and by the end of the month, money in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice will be deposited in the bank accounts of all beneficiaries”, he said.

Sidaramaiah speaking at the convention hall of Vidhana Soudha after inaugurating the Anna Bhagya scheme.

The CM officially launched the Anna Bhagya scheme at the convention hall of Vidhana Soudha on Monday evening and funds were transferred to 7.11 lakh beneficiaries in Mysuru and 3.4 lakh beneficiaries in Kolar district. From Tuesday, the money will be deposited in the bank accounts of beneficiaries in other districts too.

Siddaramaiah said three of the guarantees have already been implemented and the Gruha Lakshmi scheme will be rolled out from August 16. “The Yuva Nidhi scheme too will start from November-December. The Anna Bhagya scheme will benefit 4.42 lakh people of 1.28 crore households who have BPL and Antyodaya cards. The BJP is only indulging in politics”, he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar and Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa launching the official logo of the Anna Bhagya scheme.

The CM said the Anna Bhagya scheme was started in 2013 itself when the Congress came to power. “But during the Covid pandemic, the Centre stopped giving money to BPL families. We took a decision to implement all the five guarantees on the first day after taking oath. It was the UPA government led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which introduced the Food Security Act”, he added.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar recalled that the previous Congress government in the state under Siddaramaiah was providing 7 kg of foodgrains to BPL families which was brought down to 5 kg during the BJP government.

A poster of the Anna Bhagya scheme was also unveiled.

“The Centre could have been magnanimous and provided us rice, but did not. But the BJP is going about claiming that it is the Centre providing 5 kg of rice. By this financial year, we will implement all our guarantees. This will together provide relief of Rs 5,000 to each family”, he noted.

Earlier, Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa blamed the Centre for not allowing FCI to sell rice to the state. “From tomorrow, we will deposit money in the accounts of beneficiaries in Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Bagalkot, Dharwad and over the next 10 days, we will cover all beneficiaries in all the districts”, he said.