Orissa govt lays out poll plan with cheap rice

Keeping an eye on the upcoming Assembly and general elections, the ruling BJD-BJP coalition government in Orissa on Monday announced 25 kgs of rice to all the families living below poverty line (BPL) at Rs 2 per kilogram. This new price will come into effect from the month of August.

As per official sources, this new scheme would benefit a total of 49 lakh BPL families including 44 lakh families living in rural areas and 5 lakh in urban areas.

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Besides, there are about 5 lakh families above poverty line (APL) in KBK (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi) region and tribal hostels who will also be provided rice at the same concessional rate.

Moreover, people who come under the poorest category in the Antyodaya Anna Yojana will also get the same benefit.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while announcing the scheme said, “the government hopes to do good to all BPL families at a time when food price is surging high.”

With the assembly election on the corner, it is considered as a calculated move by the Biju Janta Dal (BJD) to pull people’s attention in terms of vote bank.

Meanwhile, criticising the BJD government, the leader of opposition Janaki Ballabh Patnaik slammed Naveen Patnaik for playing vote bank politics, he said, “the decission is completely politically motivated and only to gain votes”.

In another political development, as the Left withdraws support from the UPA government at the Centre, the BJD government too cleared its intention to vote against the Congress led government over the nuclear deal if a vote of confidence is brought up in the parliament.