Hostel students from SC, ST, OBC families to get subsidised foodgrain
New Delhi, April 23: Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday said hostel students belonging to SC, ST and OBC families will be entitled to 15 kg of foodgrain per month at subsidised rates.
Under the new PDS scheme, which will be rolled out at the earliest, over one crore students from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes will benefit.
"It is a historic step. Under the scheme, students from these communities, where their strength is two third of the total number of hostel students, will be given 15 kg food grain. If the rice is priced at Rs 30 per kg in open market, the students will get it for Rs 6," Paswan told reporters here.
"We have asked the states to send us the list of beneficiaries as soon as possible. Also, the states will have to decide the type of foodgrain to be distributed. The Centre will bear all expenses on the subsidy."
He said 13 lakh tonnes of foodgrain was allotted under the scheme.
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Ceasefire or not, India must pursue terrorists responsible for Pahalgam attack: Owaisi
Hyderabad, May 11 (PTI): With India and Pakistan agreeing to an immediate ceasefire, Owaisi said, truce or not, India must continue to pursue those behind the Pahalgam terror attack.
In a post on X, the Hyderabad MP said he wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the ceasefire rather than the President of a foreign country (US).
"#Ceasefire or no ceasefire we must pursue the terrorists responsible for #Pahalgam attack", he said adding as long as Pakistan uses its territory for terrorism against India, there can be no permanent peace.
Owaisi said he always stood by the government and the armed forces against external aggression and this will continue.
The AIMIM chief thanked the armed forces for their bravery and commendable skill.
He paid homage to Army jawan, M Murali Naik, ADDC Raj Kumar Thapa and prayed for all the civilians who were killed or injured during the conflict.
Owaisi expressed hope that the ceasefire would bring much-needed respite to people living in border areas.
He also urged Indians and political parties to reflect on the past two weeks. "India is strong when it is united; our enemies benefit when Indians fight Indians."
However, he said he had some questions and hoped the government would provide clarity on the matter.
"I wish our PM @narendramodi had announced the ceasefire rather than the President of a foreign country. We have always been opposed to third party intervention since Simla (1972). Why have we now accepted it? I hope the Kashmir issue will not be internationalised, as it is our internal matter", he said.
He sought to know why India was agreeing to hold talks on a neutral territory and sought clarity on the agenda of these discussions.
"Does the United States guarantee that Pakistan will not use its territory for terrorism?," he asked.
Owaisi questioned if the government succeeded in its objective of deterring Pakistan from carrying out future terror attacks. "Was our goal to get a Trump-brokered ceasefire or was it to bring Pakistan to such a position that it would not even dream of another terror attack?," he asked.
The AIMIM leader said India must persist with its effforts to have Pakistan placed on the FATF grey list.
