Superfin rice to poor at Rupees 1-a-kg in pipeline

Superfin rice to poor at Rupees 1-a-kg in pipeline
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Highlights

State government is considering bringing major changes in public distribution system. The changes proposed to be implemented include providing superfine rice for all white cardholders either at Re 1 a kg or at some reasonable price and reviving supply of pulses and sugar through Public Distribution System (PDS).

Hyderabad: State government is considering bringing major changes in public distribution system. The changes proposed to be implemented include providing superfine rice for all white cardholders either at Re 1 a kg or at some reasonable price and reviving supply of pulses and sugar through Public Distribution System (PDS).

Highlights:

  • Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao directs the officials of the Civil Supplies Department to strengthen the public distribution system
  • Officials are asked to chalk out an action plan to provide not only rice but also pulses and sugar through fair shops
  • These steps, the officials feel, will help reduce the gap between the rich and the poor

At present, government is supplying ordinary rice at Rs 1 a kg to nearly 89 lakh white cardholders through fair price shops in the State. Under the highly subsidised rice distribution programme, State government bears nearly Rs 1,500 crore financial burden every year.

Top officials in the Chief Minister Office (CMO) told The Hans India that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has directed the Civil Supplies Department to chalk out an action plan to strengthen the existing PDS. Providing superfine rice to the white cardholders is part of the action plan the officials have been asked to prepare.

The feedback, sources said, showed that majority of the consumers are not relishing the rice being supplied at Rs 1 a kg and instead preferring to buy better quality rice from open market. If superfine rice is supplied on ration cards, it would also help in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, the Chief Minister is said to have told the officials.

Nutrients available in fine rice also vary from the ordinary rice being supplied every month to the beneficiaries, officials said ' “KCR is of the strong opinion that since children belonging to poorer sections are being supplied fine rice in welfare hostels, their families also deserve to have nutritious food,” officials said.

The government is purchasing ordinary rice at Rs 25 to 30 per kg depending on market rate and is supplying Re 1 per kg. The superfine quality rice is being sold at Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg in the market. The government estimates show the burden on the exchequer will go up by two-fold.

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