India, Feb. 20 -- Karnataka Minister for Food, KH Muniyappa, announced on Wednesday that the state government will begin distributing the additional 5 kg of free rice under the Anna Bhagya scheme from this month, fulfilling a key pre-poll promise.

"Starting this month, beneficiaries will receive the full 10 kg of rice as assured under the scheme," Muniyappa stated at a press conference held at Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore Mirror reported.

He further confirmed that the central government had agreed to supply the additional quantity.

The state requires 2.29 lakh metric tonnes of rice per month, amounting to 27.48 lakh metric tonnes annually, to meet the demand under the scheme, he added.

(Also Read: By Siddaramaiah, for Siddaramaiah': Karn...