Karnataka Food Safety Commission has recommended to the State government to reduce the quantity of rice given under Anna Bhagya scheme to five kilograms from 10 kg and provide alternative grain instead.
Speaking to presspersons in Dharwad on Friday, chairman of Karnataka Food Safety Commission R. Krishna said that he recommended reduction of rice given to the beneficiaries under the public distribution system (PDS) as the present 10 kg rice given under the scheme is surplus and leading to black marketing.
Dr. Krishna said that the recommendation has been made after the finding that the beneficiaries are actually getting more rice than what they actually require and that the surplus rice is being sold to middlemen who in turn sell it to private traders after re-polishing it.
Dr. Krishna said that at the rate of 10 kg per person, the families are getting an average of 40 kg to 50 kg of rice under the scheme. The beneficiaries are selling the surplus rice to middlemen. When there is shortage of rice, the government was giving 5 kg rice per person and ₹170 in cash with which the beneficiaries were happy. However, now, the government has started giving additional five kilograms of rice, he said.
“In the wake of these findings, we have recommended to the government to reduce the quantity of rice to 5 kg per person and instead of cash, give edible oil or cereals,” he said.
Published – May 09, 2025 07:50 pm IST