Karnataka Likely to Drop Indira Kit Plan Under Anna Bhagya Scheme
The Karnataka government is reportedly reconsidering the proposed Indira Kit under the Anna Bhagya Scheme as tender delays and rising costs make continuation of rice distribution more likely.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is reportedly set to reconsider its proposal to introduce the Indira Kit under the Anna Bhagya Scheme, with officials now leaning towards continuing the existing distribution of 10 kilograms of rice to eligible beneficiaries.
The proposed Indira Kit was expected to replace the additional 5 kilograms of rice provided under the scheme with essential food items such as toor dal, cooking oil, salt and sugar. However, the plan has remained stalled for several months due to delays in the tender process and concerns over the financial burden of implementing the programme.
According to official sources, the tender process has been pending for nearly eight months. An earlier round of bidding reportedly attracted around 20 firms, but the process failed to move forward because of procedural issues and complex eligibility conditions. Officials had earlier indicated that fresh tenders would be invited after relaxing some of the requirements, but that proposal now appears uncertain.
The financial implications have also become a major concern. Estimates suggest that distributing the Indira Kit every month could require an additional expenditure of around Rs 500 crore to Rs 550 crore. Ensuring consistent quality of the food items while accommodating such a large budget has emerged as another significant challenge for the government.
At present, beneficiaries holding Below Poverty Line ration cards receive 10 kilograms of rice per person every month under the Anna Bhagya Scheme. Earlier, when the state faced difficulties in procuring sufficient rice, the government transferred cash directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer. That arrangement remained in place from July 2023 until January 2025 before the government explored alternative options.
The Indira Kit was later proposed as a nutritional alternative to cash assistance, with the aim of supplying essential household food items instead of the additional rice allocation. Although officials had initially indicated that the kits would be introduced earlier this year, the rollout was repeatedly postponed.
Sources now indicate that the Food Department believes continuing the existing rice distribution may be a more practical option than launching the new kit programme. While no official announcement has been made yet, the proposal to discontinue the Indira Kit is reportedly under active consideration.
