Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to launch Direct Benefit Transfer under the Anna Bhagya scheme on Monday. The move is expected benefit around 1.06 crore ration card holders from the state even as several lakh others remain temporarily excluded. Around 22 lakh families living Below Poverty Line may not get the assistance immediately as they do not have bank accounts.
The state has 99% 1.28 crore ration card of Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Households with 82% linked to active bank accounts. “The cash will be transferred to those card holders. The remaining card holders will be intimated to open new accounts,” an official statement said on Sunday.
The drive will be started by the CM and his deputy DK Shivakumar tomorrow at 5 pm.
Earlier on Sunday a state minister said that the entire money would be transferred into the account of the beneficiaries in 15 days. There are 4.41 crore beneficiaries in the state under the scheme.
The Congress’ poll promises had included an assurance that each eligible family would get five additional kilograms of rice (apart from the current 5 kg they receive from the Centre). However, in absence of adequate supply of rice, the state government decided to give cash in place of five kg additional rice at ₹34 per kg to each beneficiary.
Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa said on Saturday that the state had tried to get rice but was rebuffed by the Centre. Karnataka also approached Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other states but the rates were high. The cash alternative will remain in place till rice becomes available.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Updated: 09 Jul 2023, 11:51 PM IST
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