After Saree Distribution by Yeddy, Somanna Plans 'Akki Santhe'

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 19: Even as Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa keeps himself fully busy and preoccupied in distributing sarees to the mothers of the beneficiary girls from below poverty line families covered under the Bhagyalakshmi Scheme, Food and Civil Supplies Minister V Somanna has mooted the idea of organising ''Akki Santhe" (rice fairs) in all taluks throughout the state.

Speaking to reporters after reviewing the distribution of foodgrains under the pubic distribution system in the state, the minister said Akki Santhe would he organised in all taluks immediately to offer rice and wheat at subsidised prices to all category of households.

The price of rice and wheat to be distributed to the people in the Akki Santhe  would be Rs 9.40 and Rs 7.20 a kg respectively, according to Somanna, a close confidant of the chief minister.

He said the state had a stock of Rs 38,000 tonnes of rice and 40,000 tonnes of wheat which can be distributed to the people at subsidised prices.

The Akki Santhe scheme would help in bringing down the pries of essential commodities in the open market, the minister said making it clear that the scheme was not aimed at influencing the rural voters during the ensuing taluk and zilla panchayat polls.

All that the people will have to do to purchase the subsidised rice and wheat at the Akki Santhe, according to Somanna, is to show one of their identity cards given by the government or private authorities while buying the foodgrains.

Following high percentage of children and pregnant women being found to be anaemic, Somanna said the government had decided to distribute fortified wheat flour to below poverty line (BPL) families through fair price shops in Bangalore rural and urban districts on a pilot basis from January 2011.

The flour mills would supply fortified wheat to department. It would cost Rs 22 lakh a year. The extension of the scheme to the entire state would cost annually Rs eight crore to the exchequer, he said.

Officials of the department visited Gujarat and Tamil Nadu recently to study the implementation of the system there and prepare the groundwork for introducing the same model in the state.

Tenders would be called to supply fortified wheat next month and it would be launched on January 1, 2011, Somanna said.

Task Forces comprising of officials, representatives of NGOs and elected representatives would be constituted in each district in ten days time to monitor quality of foodgrains.

A coordination committee of officials would also be set up to address the grievances of ration shops and cardholders, he added.

The department has decided to issue Anthyodaya cards to 1.20 lakh poorest of the poor families.

A total of 12 lakh families were eligible to get Anthyodaya cards in the state. The department has issued cards to 10.80 lakh families.

The deputy directors of all districts have been instructed to identify eligible families for issuing Anthyodaya cards in a month’s time, the minister said.

The Anthyodaya card holders would be given 29 kg of rice and six kg of wheat every month at a price of Rs three and Rs two, respectively, he said.