Over 1000 Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders in Rajasthan, got free cell phones, instead of the free food grains. It seemed the UPA Government would rather let the food grains rot in open than distribute them for free to the poor.

The Government felt it more important to distribute cell phones to the poor in Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology Sachin Pilot's constituency of Ajmer.

People of Phagi Village in Rajasthan haven't been fortunate enough to get free food grains from the Government. But these Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders have been magnanimously issued BSNL mobile connections. One among them is Gyarasi Devi who has no clue what to do with this unwelcome gift.

"We could have done with some grains or a job. What will we do with these mobiles," said a BPL card holder Gyarasi Devi.

The BSNL has supplied 1000 BPL card holders with free connections as part of their corporate social responsibility initiative. But many of the recipients say its more a headache than a gift.

"Mobiles will actually add to our expenses. The food grains in the godowns are rotting, why not Government can distribute food grains, said BPL card holder, Govind.

However, Union IT Minister Sachin Pilot skipped the function at the last minute. Also conspicuous in his absence was Rajasthan Civil Supplies Minister Babulal Naagar. Babulal was recently caught in controversy after it was shown that the FCI godowns were being used to stack liqour, while food grain rotted outside. But Sachin Pilot has defended the decision to supply mobile phones instead of food grains.

"It is a good start made by the BSNL to make people below the poverty line feel like they too can be part of the telecom revolution. My best wishes are with them, " said Sachin Pilot.

However the truth is many of the BPL families hardly get enough to eat. However, the decision is like the French Queen Marie Antoinette's proverbial words - let them eat cake, if they can't get bread.