Puducherry L-G gives nod for free rice scheme

According to the statement, during the current financial year 2018-19, the Civil Supplies Department has so far distributed free rice through Public Distribution System for three months and in lieu of rice remitted cash to the bank account of the beneficiary for five months by DBT method.

The Department has now finalised the suppliers after floating tenders and the purchase price for the rice range from Rs 32 to Rs 36 a kilogram. The department requires Rs 17.44 crore to implement the scheme for one month and Rs 52.32 crore for three months. But only Rs 15.58 crore is available in the current budget.

The department sought for administrative approval of Lt Governor to implement the scheme for three months stating that the bills would be settled after making funds available in the next year budget.

The Lt Governor has noted that for the last three years under the National Food Security Act, the central government is releasing every month cash equivalent to five kilograms of rice into the bank account of about six lakh BPL beneficiaries of Puducherry by DBT method. So far no request has been made by these beneficiaries to distribute food grain in lieu of cash under the national scheme, the statement added.