Karnataka government has started cash transfer under 1st phase of Anna Bhagya Yojana 2023 . In the new anna bhagya scheme, govt. aims to provide free 10 kg rice per person per month to BPL families. The state govt. will provide subsidized food grains to ensure food security and reduce hunger among vulnerable sections of society. In the initial phase, govt. is providing cash instead of rice because FCI has halted food grains supplies to state governments. 

The poor people gets 5 kg rice under National Food Security Act (NFSA). Now the state govt. will provide an additional 5 kg rice to BPL ration card holders under Anna Bhagya Scheme. Thus, each beneficiary of Anna Bhagya Yojana would get 10kg free rice every month. But in the 1st phase, govt. has transferred cash assistance due to unavailability of rice.

DBT Transfer in Anna Bhagya Scheme 2023 

According to the CMO, Karnataka has 128 million ration cardholders who are eligible for the cash transfer. The government has transferred Rs. 34 per kilogram of rice, equivalent to Rs. 170 per person per month, in exchange for the rice. These funds are being deposited into the bank accounts linked to the Aadhaar numbers of the BPL family heads.

Of the 128 million ration cards, 99% (127 million) are linked with Aadhaar numbers, and 82% (106 million) of these cards are connected to active bank accounts. The cash transfer process has already begun for these cardholders. For the remaining ration cardholders, instructions will be provided to open new bank accounts. Out of 127 million ration cards, more than 99% have a designated Head of Household (HoH). The cash transfers will be made to the bank accounts of these HoHs, with 94% being women and 5% men, according to the CMO.

The State government, which started direct benefit transfer (DBT) in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice to beneficiaries under the Anna Bhagya scheme for BPL and Antyodaya card holders on July 10, has so far credited Rs. 456.73 crore to 78.4 lakh ration cards holders in 24 districts. 

Reason for Cash Transfer in Phase 1 of Anna Bhagya Yojana

Karnataka govt. was unable to procure rice due to a halt in grain sales from Food Corporation of India to state governments. Under pressure to fulfill the scheme's guarantee, the Congress party announced the cash transfer solution. The annual expenditure for the scheme is approximately Rs. 10,000 crore. While the government initially estimated the monthly cost of supplying grains to be around Rs. 840 crore, the cash transfer method will cost the state exchequer approximately Rs. 750 crore, accounting for transportation savings.

Benefits of Karnataka Anna Bhagya Yojana 2023

Anna Bhagya has been instrumental in addressing food insecurity and improving the nutritional status of vulnerable sections of society in Karnataka. The scheme has received positive recognition for its impact on reducing hunger and improving access to affordable food grains.
This Annabhagya yojana would ensure that basic food requirements are met for vulnerable individuals and families. Moreover, this free rice scheme would ensure that "no one sleeps hungry". The Anna Bhagya scheme announcement was one of the pre poll promises by Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with gruha lakshmi yojana, yuva nidhi scheme, gruhini shakti etc.
The distribution of subsidized rice would be done through fair price shops in Karnataka state. 

Announcement of Karnataka Anna Bhagya Scheme

The honourable chief minister of Karnataka has started implementation of Anna Bhagya Yojana on 10 July 2023. While announcing the scheme earlier, CM stated "our government will provide 10 kg rice per person per month to BPL families and this would be given absolutely free of cost". To empower women, another scheme namely Gruha Lakshmi scheme is being implemented in which Rs. 2,000 are to be given to female heads of every household in Karnataka. 

Overview of Annabhagya Scheme in Karnataka 

Name of SchemeAnna Bhagya Yojana
StateKarnataka
Type of SchemeSubsidized food grain scheme
Benefitsfree 10 Kg rice per person per month to BPL families
Who announced itSmt. Priyanka Gandhi (before Karnataka state assembly elections) 
Start Date10 July 2023

Objective of Annabhagya Yojana

Anna Bhagya Yojana was firstly announced by Mrs. Priyanka Gandhi before Karnataka assembly elections. After getting a whooping majority, congress party is focusing on fulfilling its pre poll announcements. One of the announcement was to give free 10 kg rice p.m to each person belonging to below proverty line (BPL) families across the state. On 10th July 2023, the state govt. has started 1st phase of Anna Bhagya Yojana 2023.

Congress Party on Free 10 Kg Rice Scheme for BPL Families in Karnataka

Before Karnataka assembly elections 2023, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced the Anna Bhagya scheme, promising 10 kg free rice per month per person of BPL family if voted to power in the state. Addressing a "Na Nayaki" (I am a woman leader) convention for women in the city, the Congress leader said the free food grain scheme would help poor families.

Karnataka Anna Bhagya Yojana 2013 (Old)

Under the old Anna Bhagya scheme, eligible households were provided with rice, wheat, and other essential food grains at highly subsidized rates. The scheme was launched in 2013 by the then Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah. It replaced the previous system of providing food grains through the public distribution system (PDS) with a more inclusive and comprehensive approach. The scheme was digitized to ensure transparency and reduce corruption. Electronic point of sale (ePOS) devices were used to authenticate beneficiaries and record transactions.

ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಜುಲೈ 2013 ರಿಂದ ‘ಅನ್ನಭಾಗ್ಯ’ ಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ಜಾರಿಗೆ ತರಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಯೋಜನೆಯ ಜಾರಿಯಿಂದಾಗಿ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ವಿತರಣಾ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಡಿ ಪ್ರತಿ ಬಿಪಿಎಲ್ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿತರಿಸಲಾಗುವ ಪಡಿತರ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ಈ ಮೊದಲು ಬಿಪಿಎಲ್ ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಒಬ್ಬ ಸದಸ್ಯನಿಗೆ ಕನಿಷ್ಟ 4 ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಅಕ್ಕಿ ಮತ್ತು 1 ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಗೋಧಿಯಂತೆ ಒಂದು ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ಗರಿಷ್ಟ 20 ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಅಕ್ಕಿ ಮತ್ತು 3 ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಗೋಧಿಯನ್ನು ವಿತರಿಸಲಾಗುತಿತ್ತು. ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಆದೇಶ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ: ಆನಾಸ/43/ಡಿಆರ್ಎ/2013, ದಿನಾಂಕ: 15.06.2013 ರನ್ವಯ ಹೊಸ ಯೋಜನೆಯಡಿ ಅರ್ಹ ಬಿಪಿಎಲ್ ಏಕ ಸದಸ್ಯ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳಿಗೆ 10 ಕೆ.ಜಿ, ದ್ವಿ ಸದಸ್ಯ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳಿಗೆ 20 ಕೆ.ಜಿ, 3 ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸದಸ್ಯರನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳಿಗೆ 30 ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಆಹಾರಧಾನ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿ ಕೆ.ಜಿ.ಗೆ ರೂ. 1/- ರ ದರದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಜುಲೈ-2015ರ ಮಾಹೆಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಬಿಸಲಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಆದೇಶ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ:ಆನಾಸ/20/ಆರ್ಪಿಆರ್/2013, ದಿನಾಂಕ: 31.10.2013ರನ್ವಯ 07 ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸದಸ್ಯರಿರುವ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳಿಗೆ ಅನ್ವಯವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಪ್ರತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚುವರಿ ಸದಸ್ಯರಿಗೆ 05 ಕೆ.ಜಿ ಆಹಾರಧಾನ್ಯವನ್ನು ನವೆಂಬರ್-1, 2013 ರಿಂದ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ಬರುವಂತೆ ಅನುಷ್ಠಾನಗೊಳಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

Read Old Anna Bhagya Yojana details from the link - https://ahara.kar.nic.in/Home/AnnaBhagyaYojana