Modi government's ambitious 'Bharat Rice' project stalled in just four months
Bengaluru: The central government's ambitious 'Bharat Rice' scheme, aimed at distributing quality food at affordable prices, has been temporarily suspended since July. Under this scheme, rice was sold at ₹29 per kg, wheat flour at ₹27.50 per kg, and pulses at ₹60 per kg.
The 'Bharat Rice' scheme, which began on February 2, 2024, in the wake of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, was designed to provide quality food to the common man at low prices. The scheme, overseen by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), saw high demand from consumers. Supplies were maintained until June 10, after which deliveries ceased, leading to the current suspension. The Nafed website shows the rice to be out of stock.
Initially, the scheme involved distributing food items through mobile vans and select malls across various parts of the state. Consumers could purchase ten kilograms of rice or wheat flour, with pulses being available in some districts. However, not all promised deliveries were made.
For Below Poverty Line (BPL) cardholders, the state distributed five kilograms of rice per person for free, while Above Poverty Line (APL) cardholders received ten kilograms of rice at ₹15 per kg. However, many families without ration cards, including migrants and daily wage laborers, faced difficulties in accessing affordable food. The temporary halt in the scheme has added to their woes.
Vinaykumar, Head of NAFED Karnataka Division, informed that around 5,000 tonnes of Bharat rice, wheat flour, and pulses were sold through mobile vans and selected outlets like Reliance Mart and Jio Mart. Despite the high demand, supplies have run out, and no groceries have been delivered since July 1.
The primary reason for the suspension appears to be the depressed paddy production last year due to insufficient rainfall, making it challenging to sustain the scheme across the country. This, coupled with the financial burden on the government, led to the temporary halt.
The central government is now contemplating a new policy for the distribution of Bharat rice. Details of the new policy are awaited.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
