Government rice taken as donation from poor Hindus and sold in the open market

Symbolic photo

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) – Reports have emerged that Christian missionaries are exploiting the ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ as well as the State Government’s ‘Annapurna Yojana’. These missionaries reportedly collect a handful of rice in donation from the Government-supplied rice distributed to the poor.

Each family member donates a handful of rice daily, which is then amassed in large quantities and sold in the open market at Rs 25–30 per kg. Estimates suggest that this malpractice generates an annual income exceeding Rs 100 crore, which is purportedly used to pay preachers and support missionary activities in rural areas.

Chhattisgarh, with a population of 3.05 crore, has approximately 2.5 crore beneficiaries of Government food programmes. Under these schemes, a family of four receives 35 kg of rice per month. However, the misuse of Government rice is creating new societal challenges. Since the stricter implementation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in 2019, missionaries have faced obstacles in acquiring foreign funding. Consequently, they have turned to rice collection as an alternative source of income.

How the misuse was exposed

In 2020, ten people were apprehended during a ‘healing meeting’ and revealed details of the ‘one handful of rice’ scheme being operated in the Samarbahar village of Jashpur. Similar admissions were made by people arrested in January 2024 in Jurgum village of Jashpur. In 2011, Christians accounted for 22.5% of Jashpur’s population, which is now estimated to exceed 35%.

Editorial Perspectives

• With the BJP Government in power in Chhattisgarh, the people expect firm measures to address such issues. Hindus must pressurise the Government to act against malpractices.
• Christian missionaries often pretend to be helping the poor, but steal resources meant for the needy. Please note this treacherous face of the Christians.