Bengaluru, Feb 19 (NationPress) Karnataka Minister for Food, K.H. Muniyappa, declared on Wednesday that the state will commence providing an additional 5 kg of free rice starting this month, fulfilling its pre-election promise.

“From this month, recipients will receive the complete amount of 10 kgs of rice. The central government has consented to supply the extra quantity. We need 2.29 lakh metric tonnes of rice each month, totaling an annual requirement of 27.48 lakh metric tonnes,” Minister Muniyappa announced.

Consequently, the Karnataka government will terminate the monthly payment of Rs 170 per person for 5 kg of rice under the BPL scheme starting this month, as beneficiaries were previously given this cash allowance instead of rice until November.

“We will continue to transfer the amount through DBT until January,” he added.

During a press conference at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Minister Muniyappa mentioned that although sufficient rice stock is available, the Centre had previously declined to sell to the state, compelling the Congress-led government to provide a cash allowance instead of rice.

“However, with Union Minister Joshi now assuring the supply of rice to Karnataka, beneficiaries of the Anna Bhagya free rice scheme will receive 10 kgs of rice as promised in the manifesto, starting this month,” Minister Muniyappa stated.

This decision by the state followed Union Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Pralhad Joshi, criticizing on February 17 that although the Centre was offering rice to Karnataka at a minimal price of Rs 22.50 per kg, which would save the state Rs 2,280 crore annually, the state government was reluctant to accept it.

The Anna Bhagya free rice scheme was first initiated in 2013.

“We have upheld our commitment. The central government initially set the price of 1 kg of rice at Rs 28, but it is now providing it at Rs 22.50,” Minister Muniyappa elaborated.

Earlier, in response to media reports stating that the people of Karnataka were not receiving 10 kg of free rice and were struggling to obtain 5 kg of grain, Joshi remarked on Monday that the state government has rejected a Rs 10 discount from the Centre.

The Karnataka government currently buys rice at Rs 34 per kg. However, despite the Central government offering a reduced price of Rs 22.50 per kilo -- a Rs 10 discount -- the state has declined to buy it, Joshi noted.

The Minister further stressed that if the government procured rice at this rate, it would save Rs 2,280 crore annually. He accused the CM Siddaramaiah-led government of willfully ignoring this opportunity.