14 lakh families in Orissa’s poor dists to get rice at BPL rates

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 7: Union Food Minister Shanta Kumar on Monday announced that all the 14 lakh families in the KBK districts (undivided Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput) of Orissa will be provided foodgrains at Below Poverty Line (BPL) rates with effect from January this year. The BPL rice is available at Rs 6.30 per kg now.

There will be no distinction between the BPL and the APL families and all the 14 lakh families — or 73 lakh people — in these districts will now get 25 kg of foodgrains per family per month at the BPL rates.

Earlier, this benefit was available to only 6.51 lakh families. The Minister said families in the KBK districts will get a further subsidy on foodgrains to the tune of approximately Rs 137 crore per year. Identified Antodaya families will, however, continue to get foodgrains at Rs 2 a kg wheat and Rs 3 a kg of rice as per the scheme.

Earlier in the day, the Minister visited Koraput, one of the KBK districts along with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to formally extend this benefit to all the families in the KBK districts.

The Minister also announced that the FCI will give guarantee for creating additional two lakh ton storage space in the state.