From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 13: As part of the Siddaramaiah regime’s drive to supply rice to the poorest families under the ''Anna Bhagya" scheme, the State Cabinet decided on Wednesday to procure levy paddy from farmers at a price of Rs 1600 per quintal.

The Congress Government launched its ambitious “Anna Bhagya" rice scheme for providing 30 kg of rice per month to BPL families at Rupee 1 per kg in order to make “hunger free Karnataka."

Briefing reporters on the Cabinet decisions, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said the minimum support price for paddy has been fixed at Rs 1310 a quintal.

The State Government has decided to pay an additional amount of Rs 290 a quintal.

The State Government would take steps to covert paddy into rice and ensure timely supply of the rice to all ration shops in the State.

The decision would reduce dependence on the Chhattisgarh state for rice.

The State has been transporting rice from Chhattisgarh state to distribute to BPL families in the State, which are expected to cross one crore by November end.

Local procurement of paddy would reduce the burden on the government. The State has been importing rice from Chhattisgarh at Rs 30 a kg.

Karnataka Warehousing Corporation, Karnataka Marketing Federation and Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation would procure paddy from farmers, he said.

The State requires 2.84 lakh tonnes of rice per month.

Currently, it has been receiving 1.77 lakh tonnes from the Centre.

A decision has been taken to set up a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the formation of the Agriculture Price Commission to fix suitable prices for the produce of farmers.

Farmers are always facing problems due to indeterminate prices for their produce and most of the time they do not even get back the costs incurred.

The Commission would consist of farmers, agriculture experts and agro-economist, he said adding, the State Government would fix suitable prices based on the scientifically worked out recommendations of the Commission.

The State Cabinet also approved repairs and renovation of 216 treasuries at an estimated cost of Rs 36.58 crore. It has decided to take up construction of 11,000 police houses at an estimated cost of Rs 1,818 crore.

He said the “Vajpayee Arogyashri," a health insurance scheme, so far limited to BPL households, would also be extended to above poverty line (APL) families.

Administrative approval was given for remodelling of Narayanapura left bank canal and its network - extension, renovation and modernisation - at an estimated cost of Rs 4103.50 crore, Jayachandra said.