Guidelines impede Annapurna scheme implementation: Minister

Bangalore, Apr 3 (UNI) The Centrally-sponsored Annapurna scheme, which envisaged provision of foodgrains to the aged and destitute, had not become popular in Karnataka due to some of the guidelines of the scheme, Civil Supplies Minister Govind Karjol informed the Legislative Council today.

Replying to a query raised by Congress member K C Kondaiah during question hour, he said the State Government had identified 36,644 beneficiaries under the Annapurna scheme and as many as 25,452 people were being provided foodgrains through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The Minister said according to the Centre's guidelines, anybody who was already a beneficiary of any Central or State Government's subsistence allowance would not be eligible for the Annapurna scheme. As the other subsistence allowances were more attractive than the Annapurna scheme, the Government was not in a position to meet the target of covering 68,040 people as directed by the Union Government. The scheme was implemented in the State from February this year only, though it was launched in 2004 as funds were not released by the Union Government, he added.

UNI