The ‘Poverty–free Kerala’ project for supply of rice at Re.1 a kg to people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) will cover 20.57 lakh families initially.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony will inaugurate the scheme at a function to be held at the Santhigiri Asramom ground at Pothencode, near here, on Saturday.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister T.M. Jacob said in an article released for publication that 14.61 lakh BPL cardholders and 5.96 lakh families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) would be the beneficiaries of the scheme. Besides, occupants in orphanages approved by the government would be eligible for rice at Re.1 a kg.
The Minister said 35 kg of rice would be supplied at the subsidised price to the AAY families every month while the BPL families would get 25 kg of rice at Re.1 a kg. Orphanages would be provided with rice of 5 kg for each occupant every month. The quantum of rice needed for the scheme will be 36,518 tonnes for BPL families and 20,853 tonnes for the AAY families.
Mr. Jacob announced that the government would also provide an ‘Onam kit’ containing provisions to every BPL and AAY family during the festival season free of cost. The kit would contain rice and sugar besides other essential articles. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would inaugurate the scheme at the function at Pothencode. The total cost of the kits would be Rs.19 crore.
He added that the scheme for immediate issue of ration cards on application would be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas at the function. Transport Minister V.S. Sivakumar would inaugurate the distribution of five kg of free rice to pupils during the festival season.
The Minister expressed the hope that the scheme would free the State of poverty. None would have to go hungry when rice was available at Re.1 a kg.
