New Delhi/Bengaluru: The Central government has stopped the supply of food grains to the SC/ST and backward class hostels of Karnataka four months ago. The officials said that the main reason behind the move is a strong doubt that state is using the food grains for other purposes.

Every year, the Central government sanctions around 65,714 tonnes of food grains to old age homes, beggars’ rehabilitation centres, refugee centres and hostels under social welfare schemes.

The Union government had sought details about the beneficiaries. But, the Government of Karnataka didn’t send the list, following which the centre has stopped the supplies. Soon after getting the detail about the beneficiaries, the new load of food grains will be supplied to the state, said an official from the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

The Central government used to supply food grains to age old homes and hostels under two different schemes. However, to bring more transparency in the process, two schemes were merged and the government had asked to submit the list of institutions, hostels, and beneficiaries.

Though the government had stressed that the list of beneficiaries is urgent and mandatory, information was not provided. When senior officials from Karnataka came to Delhi, we conveyed the Union government’s stand in this regard, said the official.