By IANS,
Raipur : Chhattisgarh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday said it will give rice at 1 Rupee a kilogramme to the 700,000 people who are beneficiaries of a government sponsored subsidised food grain scheme if it retained power in the state assembly polls due Nov 14 and 20.
The scheme, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), was launched in 2001 for the poorest of the poor households from the category of the people living below poverty line (BPL). Wheat is given to them at Rs.2 per kg and rice at Rs.3 per kg.
Besides, the BJP in its election manifesto also announced it would provide rice at Rs.2 a kg to all BPL families.
The manifesto was released by party chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad here in the presence of Chief Minister Raman Singh.
The opposition Congress that released its manifesto Nov 7 also promised to provide rice at Rs. 2 per kg, free power and interest-free loans to farmers besides 50 percent reservation to women in government jobs.
The BJP has also offered sops to the state’s 3.2 million farmers’ community.
“If the party retains power, the government will give bonus of Rs.270 per quintal on paddy procurement,” Singh said.
The manifesto further promises interest-free loans to farmers and free power for irrigation pumps up to five horse power.
The BJP said it has planned to start metro rail service in the state to connect all major cities with state capital Raipur.