Stopping food supply under Centre’s welfare scheme affects Siddaganga Math
TUMAKURU: With the former food and civil supplies minister U T Khader raising the issue of the Centre stopping the welfare scheme to provide foodgrains through subsidy to NGOs it came to the fore that even the institutions like Siddaganga Math got affected from the same.
“As the scheme reportedly got misused by some NGOs in north India it seemingly stopped which affected us as well. The Math lost 750 quintals of rice and 200 quintals of wheat”, informed the head of the Math Sri Siddalinga Swamiji.
The administrative officer of the Math Vishwanathaiah also admitted that the supply has been stopped. “The Math has over 10,000 students and receiving an average of 3,000 visitors daily and all of them were being fed with food normally with the blessings of Sri Shivakumara Swamiji”, he remarked.
What helped the Math to cope up with the situation was that farmers and the industrialists from across the state helping with the donations and foodgrains. “Thousands of quintals of paddy had arrived at the time Sri Shivakumara Swamiji passed away and we have been utilising the stock and there will be no shortage of foodgrains at all”, maintained the AO.
The deputy commissioner Dr. K Rakesh Kumar clarified that the ‘Aksha Dasoha’- Bisioota(midday meals) has not been affected at all as the supplies have been done with regularly following the indent by the Mutt.
The ZP CEO Shubha Kalyan informed TNIE that as for as the ‘Akshara Dasoha’ midday meals scheme concerned the state and Centre’s share of 40:60 percent has prevailed. “Might be under some other welfare scheme the subsidy has been stopped”, he maintained.
The district officer for Akshara Dasoha B P Nagaraju has also clarified that the schools of the Math have been supplied with the foodgrains, milk and edible oils following the indent.
According to sources what affected the Math and other NGOs of the state is the Centre stopping the subsidy against the foodgrains to feed the public under welfare schemes. Apparently, organisations like Siddaganga Math which has a residential ‘gurukula’ for over 10,000 students need to provide breakfast, lunch and also dinner. When the subsidy under the welfare scheme cut, it will create a deficit for the organisation as it has to manage with its own resources.
Under fire, cabinet restores subsidised foodgrains supply
BENGALURU: Two months after it stopped the supply of subsidised rice and wheat to students of welfare institutions and hostels including those run by religious mutts under the Dasoha Scheme’s welfare programme, the Yediyurappa cabinet on Tuesday decided to restore it. After letters from social welfare institutions including prominent religious mutts like Tumakuru’s Siddaganga Math, Suttur Math and the Congress’ all-out attack led by former minister U T Khader, the cabinet decided to continue the supply.
“Cabinet has decided to continue supply of susbsidised foodgrains (rice and wheat) for the benefit of 37,700 children under the Dasoha scheme in 351 welfare institutions for the next one year at the cost of Rs 18 crore,” said J C Madhuswamy, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister. Under this scheme, institutions that provide free accommodation and food for students are entitled to avail 10 kg rice and 5 kg wheat per student every month at subsidised rates. But following a central government directive in November, the state government had stopped supply to private institutions since December.
Hours before the cabinet meeting, Khader addressed a press conference and said, “This government is snatching away food from children by stalling the supply of foodgrains. Institutions like Suttur Math, Siddaganga Math that have worldwide fame for their service are being inconvenienced by this,” Khader said.
Finding itself in a fix, especially in a matter that involves Maths, the cabinet was quick to restore the supply. “Foodgrains were being supplied to 183 government-run institutions and 281 institutions run by private entities. As per a central government directive, supply to private institutions was stopped but the decision was made by the previous government,” Shashikala Jolle, Women and Child Development Minister, said.
The cabinet on Tuesday also decided to direct police to investigate a case of conspiracy against Ramachandrapura Math seer Raghaveshwara Bharati. Law minister J C Madhuswamy claimed miscreants with vested interests conspired against the seer and distributed “vulgar material” to create communal disharmony.
Other cabinet decisions n D 13.5 crore set aside for annex building for Election Commission office in the State n 51 criminal cases against Yettinahole and Kalasa-Banduri protesters in various police stations to be withdrawn