The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has reviewed the progress of Biju Gram Jyoti Programme on Monday at the Orissa Secretariat through Video Conferencing. The Chief Minister has instructed to expedite the electrification of the bpl families and Lift Irrigation Points. The Chief Minister had instructed on 21st May through Video Conferencing to complete the works of 2007-08 and 2008-09 by 31st May but it has not been completed in any...

The Supreme Court (SC) surprised many on Monday when it appreciated the Centre’s effort to implement its suggestion and allocate additional 25 lakh tonnes of wheat and rice at a reduced price to people living below poverty line (bpl) within six months. The court had at an earlier hearing taken exception to the Union agriculture ministry’s silence on its suggestion to consider allocating “free” or at low cost wheat likely to...

Even as the prime minister protests his inability to distribute food free of cost to the poor, the overflowing food stocks seem set to lead to another year of blockbuster expenditure on the public distribution system. According to numbers from the department of food and public distribution system (PDS), the government spent Rs25,600 crore on food subsidies during just the first four months of the year. The amount — higher than the...

“The hungry must not be left out” The steering group of the Right to Food Campaign on Saturday expressed its apprehension about doing away with the distribution of subsidised foodgrains to Above Poverty line (APL) beneficiaries under the Public Distribution System (PDS), as suggested by the Supreme Court. While welcoming the court's order on rotting foodgrains, the campaign, that is pressing for universal PDS, has said that leaving out APL would mean...

Decision comes in the wake of court's concern In the wake of the concern expressed by the Supreme Court at foodgrains rotting, the Union government on Thursday decided to release an additional 2.5 million tonnes of rice and wheat to the States for distribution to the poor under the Targeted Public Distribution System. The grain will be sold at Below the Poverty Line (bpl) rates in the next six months. It was also...