Foodgrains at special rates for drought-hit states

New Delhi, April 11: THE government on Wednesday decided to provide foodgrains to above poverty line (APL) families in drought affected states of Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan at below poverty line (BPL) rates.

This was decided by the group of ministers (GoMs) which met here under the chairmanship of finance minister Yashwant Sinha for considering drought like situation and reviewed the measures taken for meeting the situation in eight drought-affected states.

Under food-for-work scheme about six lakh tonne has already been allocated free of cost to the drought affected states but only 65 per cent has so far been lifted, an official statement said. (PTI)