Jena alleges BJD govt depriving poor of their quota of rice

"It is extremely shocking to know that poor and needy Antyodaya Anna Yojna and BPL families of Odisha are being supplied only 25 kg of foodgrain per family whereas the Centre is supplying foodgrain at the rate of 35 kg per family," Jena said in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Jena, Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation as well as Chemical and Fertiliser, made the allegations following "a letter sent to him" by Union Minister of state for Consumer Affairs, Food Supplies and Public Distribution, K V Thomas which stated that Odisha is allocated more than the annual requirement.

 

Jena said he had written to the Chief Minister asking him to explain to the people where is this 10 kg of foodgrain for the poor going.

Lamenting that the poor families in Odisha are "deprived of their rightful quantities, "Jena wondered "where has this highly subsidised foodgrain meant for the poor and needy AAY and BPL families has disappeared?"

The centre allocates 35 kg of foodgrain to each poor family based on 1993-94 poverty estimates of the Planning Commission and March 2000 population estimates of the Registrar General of India.

Jena claimed that it has resulted in an annual loss of about Rs 700 crore towards the subsidy paid by the Central government.

The Union Minister also asked Patnaik to take immediate corrective action by directing officials to ensure that the poor get their rightful quota of 35 kg per month.