MP CM announces ~1 per kg wheat, rice, salt to poor, Oppn slams move

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday announced Re 1 per kg wheat, rice and salt to as many as 37 lakh such poor people across the state who were not covered under the national food security scheme till now, as per an official statement.

At present there are more than 1.15 crore below poverty line (BPL) and Antyodaya cards holders in the state covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA), as per the state government’s data.

The CM’S announcement comes while the state is to witness bypolls to as many as 27 assembly constituencies which will decide the fate of the BJP government.

The communiqué quoting the CM said, “The poor of the state, who were not getting fair price ration till now, will now get wheat, rice and salt at the rate of Re 1 per kg from September 1. Every month, 5 kg fair price ration per person will be given. Apart from this, 5 kg free ration per person will also be provided to poor families till the month of November. As many as 37 lakh poor beneficiaries of the state will be benefitted with this decision of the government.”

The CM’S announcement came during a meeting on Wednesday over the public distribution system (PDS).

State Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta said, “Why chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reminds himself of the poor only before elections. It was before 2018 assembly elections that he talked of labourers of unorganised sector and now ahead of bypolls he has announced food to 37 lakh more beneficiaries.”

THE CHIEF MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT COMES WHILE THE STATE IS TO WITNESS BYPOLLS TO AS MANY AS 27 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES