Karnataka Anna Bhagya scheme: Know about Siddaramaiah govt’s rice scheme for poor and controversy around it

The Congress party had promised to provide 10 kg of rice for families holding Below Poverty Line and Antyodaya cards under the Anna Bhagya scheme in its election manifesto ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls. The 10 kg of rice is beyond the 5 kg already allocated by the Centre to the poor under the National Food Security Act.

Congress and free rice scheme: A prepoll promise

This rice scheme was one of the five pre-poll guarantees by the Congress. However, the newly-elected Karnataka government is facing difficulty in procuring large quantities of rice as the Centre has refused to supply additional quantities of the staple grain to the state. So, the Siddaramaiah-led government has decided to temporarily give Rs 170 per person per month via cash transfer in lieu of the promised five kg of free rice. The launch of the Anna Bhagya scheme is scheduled for July 1.

While speaking to reporters at the Vidhana Soudha, CM Siddaramaiah said that cash at the rate of Rs 34 per kilo will be credited to the account of the beneficiaries until his government is able to procure rice.

On the eve of the launch, let us take a look at the flagship scheme of the Congress and the controversy around it.

What is the Anna Bhagya scheme? 

Congress secured a landslide victory in the 2023 Karnataka election in May. The party’s election manifesto was based on five big promises, one of which was the guarantee of free rice for the poor under the Anna Bhagya scheme. This scheme was to provide 10 kg of rice, free of cost, every month to the head of a family holding a BPL or an Antyodaya Anna Yojana card. 

This scheme, one of Siddaramaiah’s signature initiatives, was first launched in July 2013 when he became the CM. So, after coming back to power, he has reiterated the commitment to revive the programme. The Karnataka CM is seeking to implement the Guarantee of Anna Bhagya 2.0 through the Public Distribution System at the earliest.

Though the state government has been unable to procure enough rice in the market in time to fulfil the Anna Bhagya scheme.

Controversy over the Anna Bhagya scheme

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has refused to sell rice to Karnataka citing the need to maintain sufficient stocks for market intervention. As a result, the Congress government in Karnataka is accusing the BJP-led Centre of “scuttling the Anna Bhagya scheme.”

CM Siddaramaiah recently said, “They have adequate rice, which is lakhs of tonnes. They are giving it to private people, they are auctioning it, but they are not giving to the states.” The Karnataka government will now buy rice in the open market to fully implement the Anna Bhagya scheme.