Cabinet approves 50 lakh tonne grains for poor

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved an additional allocation of 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrain for below poverty line (BPL) families, said an official statement.

According to the statement, the additional allocation will remain valid for lifting up to March 31, 2014 or till the National Food Security Ordinance is implemented in the respective states.

Earlier this year, the government had approved a similar allocation of 50 lakh tonne of food grains to the states.

Considering the sufficient grain stocks in the central pool and requests from states, the government has been allocating additional BPL allocation of 50 lakh tonnes of wheat and rice since 2010-11, said the statement.