BackCentre should subsidise states to give rice at Rs2/kg: Reddy
Centre should subsidise states to give rice at Rs2/kg: Reddy
Premium
By PTI
New Delhi: In a bid to provide relief to people below poverty line, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy has suggested that Centre should subsidise the states to provide rice to the common man at Rs2 per kg.
“The government of India gives rice at Rs5.75 per kg to the states for white ration card holders -- below poverty line. That can still be brought down to may be Rs2 a kg or so," he said, adding if that happens at least a portion of the requirement of the common man could be met.
Reddy, who was in the capital, discussed the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi on 26 September. “I generally told our Congress President that it will be good. Ultimately, the responsibility of the government is to see that proper food security gets established to the common man," he said.
The chief minister said he impressed on the UPA chairperson the need to use her “good offices" with the Centre to offer rice at Rs2 a kg to the common man. He said the government’s responsibility is also to see that proper remunerative price are given to farmers.
Maintaining that the common man should get food at cheaper rates to have an inclusive growth in the country, Reddy demanded that the Centre should provide more subsidy at least for the people below poverty line.
Reddy also pointed out that there was a disparity of about Rs150 per quintal in the minimum support price between rice and wheat. He demanded “proper minimum support price to be paid, especially to rice as we are rice growing state".
The Chief Minister also highlighted that Andhra Pradesh was the only state which is giving free power to the farmers.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
