The Naveen Patnaik Government has made a major course correction in its populist scheme. The rice Rs. 2-a-kg scheme would no longer include a privilege section - the above poverty line (APL) families in the backward KBK region. The privilege section enjoying the largesse included income tax payers, members of royal families, ministers, MPs, MLAs, government officials and big businessmen. Though belated, the decision will save about Rs. 34 crore to the state ex-chequer. Around 5.56 lakh non-BPL families of the eight KBK districts are covered under this scheme launched in August 2008. A recent circular by the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department says the amendment is with immediate effect. The districts where APL families got this subsidised rice were Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Balangir and Sonepur. This, explained an officer, will help the Government cover more poor people in KBK. Presently, 50.51 lakh BPL families, including 12.64 lakh under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and 5.56 lakh above poverty line families of KBK region, are getting the benefit of the specially subsidised rice at Rs. 2-a-kg. While 33.58 lakh BPL families are provided 25 kg rice a month, the AAY beneficiaries get 35 kg. The inclusion of affluent in the APL families list had raised eyebrows. Even some members from the KBK districts raised the issue in the Assembly when the Naveen government launched the scheme in 2008. Though the scheme was launched by the Chief Minister with an eye on the last general election, this has cost over Rs. 700 crore to the State exchequer. As the extension of the scheme to APL families is putting additional pressure on the State's economy and also leading to recycling of rice, the Government finally decided to exclude them, sources said.