Dilip Ray nails Sanjay Dasburma over Re 1 Rice Scheme

Responding to a question in the Odisha Legislative Assembly regarding the distribution of rice with low price, the Minister of Food and Supply & Consumer Welfare, Sanjay Dasburma on Monday presented a report which shows that the Union government extends its support by offering Rs 20/- to Rs 23/- per 1 kg of rice in order to make the most popular scheme of the state “One kg rice @ One rupee” successful.

Rourkela MLA Shri Dilip Ray categorically asked the Minister about all the programmes through which the state government provides the low price rice to the people across the state and how much financial support it gains from the Centre.

In his reply, Sanjay Dasburma told in the floor of the House that the people of BPL Categories, APL of KBK districts and the fishermen affected for conservation red olive ridley turtle across the state are provided monthly 25 kg of rice @ 1 rupee per kg. While 35 kg of rice per month are provided through Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Physical handicap persons get 10 kg of rice@ Re 1/ kg, and as much as 10 kg of rice are distributed freely through Annapurna Yojna.

In addition, the hostellers of SC & ST Schools and Kasturba Gandhi School are also provided 15 kg of rice each in every month @ Re 1 per kg. As many as 4, 74,051 students and around 73 lakh families in the state are getting the benefit from the “One kg rice @ One rupee” scheme.

Responding to the central support, the Minister agreed that in case of “One kg rice @ One rupee” scheme, the Union government is providing Rs. 20.15 per kg for boiled rice and Rs. 20. 65 for normal rice. Similarly the state receives Rs. 22. 80 and Rs23.20 for Annapurna Yojana while for APL Rs. 17. 50 and 17.91 respectively.