Free rice to be distributed to destitutes, says Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, MAY 12. The Food and Civil Supplies Minister of Pondicherry, Mr. C. Jayakumar, said here on Friday, 10 kilos of rice would be available, free of cost, to persons who were destitute not covered by old-age pension scheme.

Addressing mediapersons, he said, the statistics of the beneficiaries were being collected. The quantum of rice available to those below the poverty line had also been raised from 10 kg to 20 kg a month. There would be no immediate revision of price of foodgrains sold through the PDS in Pondicherry.

Mr. Jayakumar, who released the packed `aata' being sold through the ration shops at the press conference, with the TMC MLA, Mr. V. Balaji receiving the first packet, said, that the one kilo packet would be available for Rs. 13.50.

The 285 ration shops in Pondicherry would sell the product and in the next phase it would be made available in Karaikal and other outlaying regions.

Mr. Jayakumar said the Central Government was releasing 300 tonnes of wheat and using a portion of this quantity, the wheat product would be sold through the fair price shops. There would be an assessment of the department that packed the aata to meet the requirements of the consumers.

He said, the Government had decided to seize the ration cards of the Government staff if they were found to be enjoying the benefit of the ration commodities, by using the red colour card and by claiming that they belonged to the below poverty line cadre of consumers. Similarly, there were reports of affluent persons enjoying the benefit of the red colour card.

Those who indulged in this would also be sternly dealt with. Reports of one person having more than one card by giving different addresses had come in.

This malpractice would also be seriously dealt with and the cards would be seized, he added.

Mr. Jayakumar said the department of civil supplies would post women employees to operate the ration shops in the Union Territory. This would not mean retrenchment of the present employees. Women would be employed only in the newly opened shops. To start with, 33 shops would be operated by women.

Pondicherry and outlying regions have a total of 2.52 lakh ration cardholders. The shops would be relocated on the basis of population density/distribution.The Director of Civil Supplies, Mr. Jayarajan, Deputy Director, Mr. Ramalingam and Managing Director of PAPSCO (Civil Supplies Corporation), Mr. Elumalai, were among those present at the press conference.

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Section  : Regional
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