Rs 1,066-Crore Village Grain Banks Scheme Soon

A Rs 1,066-crore village grain banks scheme will soon be launched in all the tribal areas of the country.

A proposal to this effect was adopted unanimously at the third meeting of the standing committee of Union ministers and chief ministers on food management and agricultural exports, held here today. The formal decision will be taken by the Cabinet.

The Centre will provide foodgrains valued at Rs 1,000 crore free of cost, besides Rs 66 crore in cash, for setting up the grain banks in each of the tribal villages to ensure food security. The grains will be stored in the village itself and will act like share capital provided by the government. The bank will be operated by a committee elected by the villagers. The scheme will be extended to other areas, subsequently, the committee decided.

The meeting was chaired by agriculture minister Ajit Singh and attended by Planning Commission deputy chairman KC Pant, finance minister Yashwant Sinha, food minister Shanta Kumar, rural development minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra and agriculture ministers of several other states.

The committee decided to discuss the Centre