Collector launches 'Amma Hastham'

Nizamabad: District Collector Christina Z Chongthu, along with other officials, launched the 'Amma Hastham' programme organised by Civil Supplies Department at Makloor mandal headquarters in the district on Wednesday. She distributed commodities to some white ration card holders. Under the scheme, a pack of nine essential commodities would be given at a cost of Rs 185 to the white ration card holders. The pack contains one kg tuwar dal, kg salt, one litre palm oil, kg wheat powder, kg wheat, half-kg sugar, quarter kg chilli powder, half kg tamarind and 100 gms turmeric powder. These items with the specified quantities in open market cost Rs 292. The card holders can benefit Rs 107 by purchasing the commodities at the ration shops. Along with the commodities, a bag would be given to the card holders, she said. Among the nine commodities, the card holders can purchase the items of their choice. There is no compulsion that they should purchase all the nine items, she maintained. About 6.42 lakh families will get a benefit of nearly Rs 7 cr per month by making use of the scheme. The beneficiaries include those who come under below poverty line (BPL), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) card holders, handloom workers and other categories can avail the scheme, the Collector said. In Makloor mandal, there are 16,000 white ration card holders and they can get a benefit of Rs 17 lakhs per month. She urged the people to make use of the scheme. Civil Supplies District manager Satish Chandra, mandal special officer Gangaram, Tahsildar Narayana, MPDO Anjaneyulu and other officials were present.