BANGALORE: After the setback in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the state government is thinking of wooing back above poverty line (APL) families.
According to sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has reportedly expressed his intention to re-introduce distribution of rice to APL families too through fair price shops at a nominal price.
The state government had stopped distribution of rice to APL families through the Public Distribution System (PDS) after it introduced Anna Bhagya scheme for BPL families.
The Chief minister, at an interaction with a delegation of the Mahila Congress recently, broached the idea of distributing rice to APL families at Rs 18-20 a kg, which is well below the market price.
There are about 35 lakh APL families in the state.
Speaking to Express, KPCC women’s wing president Manjula Naidu said Siddaramaiah is keen on announcing the scheme.
The government may come out with the programme in which each APL family would get 15 kg of rice a month.
“The move would help a large section of the people who are hit by high inflation which the Modi government has failed to bring down”, she said.
Replying to questions, she said the women’s wing of the party had sought a minimum one third of the posts of boards and corporations for women members of the party.
“Both Chief minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwara have responded positively to our plea”, she said.
Maintaining that the KPCC women’s wing also recommended a list of its members, who could be considered to the posts, she said, “Among the 70 plus posts, party women may get 15-20 posts” she added.