Karnataka Government in Negotiations with Central Agencies to Provide Rice for Anna Bhagya Scheme, Confirms CM Siddaramaiah

The Karnataka government is negotiating with three central agencies to obtain rice for the Anna Bhagya scheme, which offers an extra five kg of rice to BPL families. The Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, slammed the central government for refusing to provide rice for the scheme, which was supposed to start on the 1st of July. The state has invited quotations from the National Consumers’ Cooperative Federation (NCCF), Kendriya Bhandar, and the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED). The negotiations for prices were underway with these agencies. Already five kg of rice is coming from the Centre, costing Rs 36.70 per kg, which the Karnataka government will pay accordingly if rice is given. The Centre has been accused of being anti-poor and scuttling a program for the economically weaker sections by denying rice to the state government, despite having adequate stock. Siddaramaiah has also contacted Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh governments for rice, but these states do not have the required amount of rice available, and the rates were too high. Karnataka needs an extra 2.29 lakh metric tonnes of rice, and the state does not have the stock of ragi and maize to supply for the entire year. Telangana has agreed to give paddy, not rice, while Chhattisgarh says it can give 1.5 lakh metric tonnes but only for a month.