BPL families swell to 65 lakh in the state

Bhopal, Aug 1: The number of Below Poverty Line card holder families in the state stood at 64,54,231 with the latest addition of 10,71,688 families to the list after a fresh survey to enlist those who were earlier left out for some reasons, the government said on Friday, August 1.

Under the Mukhyamantri Annapoorna Yojana implemented from April this year covering about 2.68 crore population, each BPL family is given at least 20 Kg foodgrains per month at subsidised rate of Rs 3 per kg for wheat and Rs 4.50 per kg for rice. Before implementation of the scheme, the BPL (blue card holders) were supplied wheat at Rs 5 and rice at Rs 6.50 per kg from fair price shops.

To ensure food security to the poor, the state government allocated Rs 255 crore in the current financial year, official sources said.

Considering the total BPL families at about 40 lakh in the state, the Centre has been providing foodgrains at the rate of 35 Kg per month per BPL family, while the same quantity of foodgrains is being distributed by the state government to nearly 65 lakh BPL families at 20 kg per family per month.

Under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, each Antyodaya family would be given foodgrains at 35 kg per month during August,2008-March,2009, the government clarified today.

In Bhopal district alone, there are a total of 42,142 Antyodaya card holders.

Meanwhile, a record quantity of 23.31 lakh tonnes of wheat was procured from the state farmers this year at the support price of Rs 1000 per quintal plus a bonus of Rs 100 announced by the state government.

The State Civil Supplies Corporation procured a total of 13,27,765 tonnes of wheat, Food Corporation of India 3,92,990 tonnes, Marketing Federation 2,38,312 tonnes and National Bulk Holding Corporation 1,87,837 tonnes.

UNI