K'taka's free rice scheme to be rolled out tomorrow, beneficiaries to get cash for now: KH Muniyappa
Bengaluru, June 30: Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa on Friday said the government is all set to roll out the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, by crediting money to the bank account of the beneficiaries in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice promised to every member of a BPL household, as sufficient quantity of the foodgrain is unavailable.
Facing difficulty in procuring large quantities of rice required to fulfil its poll guarantee, the state government on Wednesday decided to pay cash into the beneficiaries' accounts at the rate of Rs 34 per kilo, for the additional 5kg of rice under the free rice scheme.
The minister also said that of the total additional 5 kg, the government plans to include 2 kg of ragi (finger millet) and jowar (sorghum) -- instead of rice -- under the scheme in the southern and northern parts of Karnataka respectively, as per requirement, as these grains are considered a staple in these two regions.
In the southern part of the state, the government plans to give 2 kg of ragi and remaining will be rice, while in north Karnataka it will be 2 kg of jowar and remaining will be rice, the minister said. There is adequate stock of ragi available, while the stock of jowar is less, so we will supply as much as we can, after that we will provide a full 5 kg of rice, he added.
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"We will get information about the beneficiaries and, based on their inputs in the days to come, if there is demand for more quantities of ragi and jowar from southern and northern parts of Karnataka respectively, changes will be made in the quantity," he said, adding that the government will procure required quantities of ragi and jowar directly from the farmers at MSP rates and stock it.
"From tomorrow, the scheme will begin. To pay to the bank accounts (of beneficiaries), we have information that 99 per cent of them have the accounts. Those without an account but have ration cards will have to open a bank account. We have said we will pay Rs 34 per kg, and each person will get (cash for) 5 kg," Muniyappa said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the amount will be paid to the bank account of the beneficiaries until there are enough grains to be distributed.
"The process is on for purchase of rice, as we had said we will supply rice or foodgrains for the poor..." he added.
Pointing out that the chief minister had promised to supply foodgrains from July 1, which is a Congress poll guarantee, Muniyappa said, "To keep up the promise, we are giving money for now."
"If the Centre had given rice from the stocks available, for cash payment, the state government would have supplied it from tomorrow," he said, adding, "Our month-long efforts in getting rice despite approaching central ministers and officials have failed."
"There are issues (in procuring rice). We have to issue a public tender. It has not been finalised. Also what kind of rice. We will decide on it and start giving rice as soon as possible," he added.
Asked as to how long the government will pay the amount to the account of the beneficiaries instead of supplying rice or foodgrains, the minister said, "I cannot give you a date for now, but I assure you that we will give rice as soon as possible. Giving money is a temporary arrangement."
On whether cash would be credited to the bank accounts from tomorrow itself, he said, "Money is ready, we have information about accounts. It will begin from tomorrow."
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Broken relationships don't automatically amount to abetment of suicide: SC
New Delhi (PTI): Broken relationships, while emotionally distressing, do not automatically amount to abetment of suicide in the absence of intention leading to the criminal offence, the Supreme Court on Friday said.
The observations came from a bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Ujjal Bhuyan in a judgement, which overturned the conviction of one Kamaruddin Dastagir Sanadi by the Karnataka High Court for the offences of cheating and abetment of suicide under the IPC.
"This is a case of a broken relationship, not criminal conduct," the judgment said.
Sanadi was initially charged under Sections 417 (cheating), 306 (abetment of suicide), and 376 (rape) of the IPC.
While the trial court acquitted him of all the charges, the Karnataka High Court, on the state's appeal, convicted him of cheating and abetment of suicide, sentencing him to five years imprisonment and imposing Rs 25,000 in fine.
According to the FIR registered at the mother's instance, her 21-year-old daughter was in love with the accused for the past eight years and died by suicide in August, 2007, after he refused to keep his promise to marry.
Writing a 17-page judgement, Justice Mithal analysed the two dying declarations of the woman and noted that neither was there any allegation of a physical relationship between the couple nor there was any intentional act leading to the suicide.
The judgement therefore underlined broken relationships were emotionally distressing, but did not automatically amount to criminal offences.
"Even in cases where the victim dies by suicide, which may be as a result of cruelty meted out to her, the courts have always held that discord and differences in domestic life are quite common in society and that the commission of such an offence largely depends upon the mental state of the victim," said the apex court.
The court further said, "Surely, until and unless some guilty intention on the part of the accused is established, it is ordinarily not possible to convict him for an offence under Section 306 IPC.”
The judgement said there was no evidence to suggest that the man instigated or provoked the woman to die by suicide and underscored a mere refusal to marry, even after a long relationship, did not constitute abetment.
