Polls on mind,Chouhan says will provide wheat at Re 1 per kg to poor

Currently,Antyodaya families get wheat at Rs 2 per kg and rice at Rs 3 per kg. Their Below Poverty Line counterparts get wheat at 3 per kg and rice at Rs 4.50 per kg. Antyodaya and BPL families get 35 kg and 20 kg foodgrains respectively every month.

Madhya Pradesh will become the second state after Chhattisgarh to offer foodgrains at these rates,which will benefit 3.50 crore people,nearly half the states population.

The new rates will entail an additional subsidy burden of Rs 360 crore under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana. The present subsidy bill is Rs 440 crore.

The proposed food security legislation seeks to provide wheat at Rs 2 per kg and rice at Rs 3 per kg. A government spokesman said the Centre gives wheat at Rs 5 per kg and rice at Rs 6.50 per kg for BPL families.

In another sop,the Madhya Pradesh government will give iodised salt to BPL and Antyodaya families at Rs per kg in all 313 development blocks in the state with effect form June 2013. The iodised salt subsidy which stood at Rs 25 crore will now rise to Rs 65 crore.