Odisha launches Rs 1 per kg rice scheme for poor

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday launched a Rs 1 per kg rice scheme for poor people in Odisha from the Maoist dominated district of Malkangiri, an official said.

According to the scheme, the government will provide 25 kg of rice at Rs 1 per kg every month to every family below the poverty line (BPL) along with some other catagories from state's backward regions, the official said.

The chief minister distributed the highly subsidised rice to people of primitive Bonda tribe at a ceremony organised by Malkangiri administration, about 600 km from here.

According to the scheme, the government will provide 25 kg of rice at Rs 1 per kg every month to every family below the poverty line.

Patnaik had announced the scheme Jan 26 on the Republic Day to provide food security to over 58 lakh families in the state.

"A hunger free Odisha is my dream," Patnaik said.

All Dalit and tribal students; Antyodaya card holders, the physically challenged and families listed under above poverty line (APL) category in Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput districts will also be covered under this scheme.

The state was earlier also providing subsidised rice at the rate of Rs.2 per family to about five million people, including poor and other selected categories since 2008 as per its pre-poll commitment.

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