Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that the Karnataka government has spent Rs 17,167 crore on the Annabhagya Scheme over the last three years to provide additional food support to poor households.

Presenting the state budget, the Chief Minister said the government has been successfully distributing five kg of additional rice every month to about 4.54 crore beneficiaries under the scheme to address hunger among the poor.

He further announced a proposal to replace the additional five kg rice with the Indira Aahara Kit, which will include toor dal, sugar, salt and cooking oil to improve nutrition among beneficiaries. For this initiative, the government has earmarked Rs 6,200 crore for the 2026–27 financial year.

To address delays in payments of retail and wholesale margins related to food grain distribution, the government will introduce a digital system through the FIST Application, which will enable direct payment of margins.

The Chief Minister also announced that the helpline 1967, operated by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, will be upgraded into an AI-based system named Smart Annavani. The system will include an automated complaint centre, voice chatbot and live call transfer facility.

Under the Dasoha Scheme, food security is currently being provided to 32,059 beneficiaries in 274 welfare institutions across the state at a cost of Rs 14 crore. The government plans to extend the scheme to 6,701 beneficiaries in 34 new welfare institutions during the current year, the Chief Minister said.