Rs 2 per kg rice scheme from Apr 9: Govt

Hyderabad, Apr 7: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said his government will launch the Rs two per kg rice scheme from April 9, benefitting all white ration card holders in the State.

Participating in Ugadi, Telugu New Year's day celebrations, organised by the State Cultural department here, he said the new scheme would help the poor as the price of rice had shot up to Rs 20 per kg. Stating that the Government was committed to the welfare of poor by providing to them the fruits of economic development, he said his Government was fulfilling all poll promises made prior to the 2004 Assembly elections.

Observing that the 'Rajiv Arogya Sri' scheme was helping the BPL families get free corporate medical treatment in 13 districts, Dr Reddy announced that the scheme would be extended to the remaining ten districts at the earliest.

The Government was paying the entire premium to the insurance agencies on behalf of the beneficiaries, he added.

Stating that the Government was implementing 'Indira Life Insurance scheme', covering 38 lakh agricultural labourers in the State, he pointed out that the total number of farmers benefitted by the Centre's farm loan waiver scheme was four crore farmers, including 78 lakh from the State.

UNI