By IANS,
Raipur : The Chhattisgarh government Wednesday said that it would provide iodised salt packets free of cost to over 3.5 million poverty-hit families.
“The free salt scheme will come into force from next fiscal year 2009-10 and will cover all 18 districts,” a food department official said.
He added that the scheme will annually cost Rs.20.23 million to the government exchequer.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised in its manifesto for the November assembly polls that it would provide salt free of cost to poor families if it retained power.
The free salt scheme came a day after the BJP government announced to cover in a phased manner over 3.5 million poor families across the state under a health insurance plan.