No shortage of PDS commodities, says Food Minister

Responding to DMK MLA Senguttuvan (Krishnagiri), who had claimed that there was a severe shortage of palm oil, Kamaraj said there is no shortage of ration supplies. Stating that distribution is being carried out as usual, the Minister said: “Earlier, black gram and tur dal were supplied to households but now tur dal alone is provided. Every household will receive 1 kg per month.” 

Earlier, Senguttuvan said: “people informed us during the grama sabha meetings that they are not getting ration supplies properly. The government had already stopped the distribution of black gram and now there is a severe shortage of palm oil in the PDS shops.”

Senguttuvan also pointed out that the government had allotted Rs 5,500 crore for two consecutive previous years. “Furthermore, when DMK president M K Stalin raised the issue of shortage of funds for the subsidy, the government replied that the funds can be managed but there was no stock in the ration shops,” he said.

However, Kamaraj countered the DMK MLA by stating that the State government has allotted Rs 6,000 crore towards food subsidy.  “Tamil Nadu is the only State in the entire country to allot Rs 6,000 for food subsidy. Even States with a much larger population have not allotted such a huge amount.” 

Although the State implements the Food Security Act, 20 kg of rice is given for free to every household per month, Kamaraj added.