300cr for three rupee kilo rice scheme

Raipur, Aug 15: Chhattisgarh government will spend Rs 300 crore every year for its food grain assistance scheme which aims to provide rice at Rs three a kilo to lakhs of people in the state, chief minister Dr Raman Singh said today.

Addressing a gathering at the Independence Day celebrations after unfurling the national flag at the police ground here, he said the ' Chief Minister's food grain assistance scheme' was being implemented to provide rice at subsidised rates to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other poor people.

Pointing out that these sections of the society have started getting rice at Rs three a kilogram, Mr Singh said nearly 2000 grain banks have already been established in the remote villages.Fair price shops have been increased from 6000 to ten thousand and steps were to ensure regular and uninterrupted supply of food grains at these shops.

In order to set up anganwadi centres at all majra tolas ( village hamlets), the chief minister said 5500 new centres and 1500 mini anganwadi centres would be opened this year. Besides, steps have been taken to provide soft loans to women self help groups , he added.

UNI