Rice at two rupee per kg for the poor in Orissa

Thaindian.com, 2nd August, 2008

Bhubaneswar, Aug 2 (IANS) The Orissa government Saturday launched a food scheme for poor in the state who will get rice at a subsidised price of two rupees per kilogram. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a function here said his government was providing the rice to the poor at subsidised rates because of the recent hike in prices.
The price rise, Patnaik alleged, was the outcome of bad governance of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the centre.
His ministers and leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party coalition launched the scheme in other parts of the state.
As per the scheme each family is entitled to get 25 kg of rice every month at the lower rate. The benefit was also extended to people living above the poverty line (APL) in Kalahandi, Koraput and Bolangir districts that often face famine.
The decision, the government said, will benefit at least 5.7 million people in the Below Poverty Line category and about 500,000 people in the APL category in these three districts.
The subsidised rice will be given on the 5th, 6th and 7th of every month and again on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of the month to those who have not been able to avail it on any of the first three dates.
The opposition Congress party has said the announcement was to woo voters.
“It is nothing but a gimmick because the state will go to poll next year,” state Congress president Jayadev Jena told IANS.