Below the poverty line cardholders Honnamma, Nagarathna and Parvathamma are univocal in their support for Anna Bhagya, the flagship programme of the State government.
The scheme has guaranteed food for their families at a subsidised cost, they say. The quality of rice distributed (at Re. 1 a kg) under the scheme is better than that distributed earlier at Rs. 3 a kg. The women, who had come to collect their quota of ration at a fair price shop in Saraswathipuram here on Wednesday, said that the scheme had helped to sustain their families. “The quantum of rice distributed meets our food requirements.”
As the scheme is completing one year on Thursday, the cardholders told The Hindu that they were satisfied with the scheme, barring minor hiccups, primarily with biometric machines. At the same time, some consumers favoured an increase in the quantity of rice.
Except for some trifling issues with regard to biometric machines (networking problem) which were being sorted out, the scheme is predominantly flaw-free and successful, said K. Rameshwarappa, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies, Mysore.
He claimed that the scheme was transparent and measures such as ‘Paditara Khatri’ and ‘Ahaara Adalat’ guaranteed the success of the scheme. About 6.08 lakh BPL cardholders were availing themselves of the scheme’s benefits.
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district said the quality of rice supplied in June was not good enough when compared to the previous months. “However, the rice quality was by and large identical since the scheme’s launch,” they aver.
Mr. Rameshwarappa said, “Anna Bhagya is a huge programme and requires a lot of logistical support. There was about 1 to 2 per cent of broken rice (nucchu akki) in the ones supplied for distribution for June. The issue has been sorted out.”
Some BPL families in parts of Nanjangud taluk went without their quota of Anna Bhagya rice in June as it was “substandard” and eventually returned. Nearly 2,000 quintals of rice was reportedly found “low-grade”.
“We are getting replacement and will ensure the supply to beneficiaries in a day or two,” the official said.
The food authorities here claimed that strict vigilance mechanism has been put in place to check illegal activities with regard to distribution or sale. Ragi was distributed in May and June.
