Surprise checks to ensure subsidised rice: Minister

Ranchi, Jan 27 (PTI) Surprise checks would be conductedto ensure proper distribution of subsidised grains for BPLfamilies and additional 11 lakh families, JharkhandDisaster Management Minister Gopal Krishna Patar said today.

"There will be surprise checks in every district toascertain whether grains meant for the target group reaches,"said Patar, who yesterday kicked off distribution of 20 kgrice at Re one per kg at Tamar, about 55 km from Ranchi.

"Surprise checks will be carried out in every district,"he said here.

In the face of drought, the government has taken upthe special initiative to provide 20 kg rice at Re one to over11 lakh additional rural BPL families every month.

This drive is in addition to the already listed BPLfamilies who get monthly quotas under various schemes likeAnnapurna, Antyodaya and the chief minister''s foodgrainassistance scheme.

The minister also expressed hope that central fundsmeant for his department would be expedited soon so that stepsto mitigate sufferings of the poor could be taken up in thebackground of two years of drought in the state.