Not to be published/broadcast before 1st September, 2008

                The State Government during the last eight months in office has initiated various steps to streamline the Public Distribution System. The regular and surprise inspection and raids on hoarders and profiteers have yielded good results and has controlled the black-marketing of essential commodities to a great extent.
               Public distribution system (PDS) is benefiting all the section of the society. The scheme is providing essential commodities to more than 15 lakh ration card holders of the state through 4351 fair price shops being coordinated through 2889 cooperative Societies, 40 Panchayats, 133 HPSCSC, 1284 individuals and 5 Mahila Mandals ensuring the food security to APL, BPL families, Antodya families and (Annapurna) helpless aged person of 65 years or above is one of the priority areas of the Government.
               As per the norms, 35 kg. food grain are being provided to APL families out of which 20 kg. Wheat floor and 15 kg rice are being providing at reasonable rates, wheat floor is being made available at Rs. 8 per  kg. whereas  rice at Rs. 9 per kg. In addition to it single ration card holder were being provided 20 kg. Wheat floor and rice per month at same rate. There are 9,93,425  ration card holder under the scheme and Government of India have allocated 9490 MT wheat, 5000 MT additional wheat and 7118 MT rice to the category for the month of July to September, 2008.
               There are 3,16,900 BPL families which are being providing 35 kg food grain per family per month, out of which 20 kg wheat floor, 15kg rice were being provided @ Rs. 5.25 per kg and Rs. 6.85 per kg respectively. The Central Government is allocating 6338 MT wheat and 4757 MT rice per month under the Schemes.
               There are 1,97,100 ration card holders under Antodaya Ann Yojna who are being provided 35 kg. Food grain per month out of which 20 kg. Wheat floor and 15 kg. Rice are being provided @ Rs. 2 per kg. And Rs. 3 per kg. Respectively. Government of India has provided 3942 MT wheat and 2953 MT rice to the consumers of the State.
              Senior citizens above the age of 65 are covered under Annapurna Yojna who are not getting oldage pension benefit.. There are 3762 such persons in the State who are being provided 10 kg. rice per person per month free of cost. State Government has made available 40 MT rice per month to this category. The levy suger is being provided to ration card holders i.e. 700 gms. levy sugar per person per month @ Rs. 13.50 per kg. Government of India has allocated 4704 MT control rate sugar to the consumer per month.
             The consumption of kerosene oil is 5411 kilo Ltrs.  As much as 5 ltrs. of kerosene oil to one cylinder holder, 3 ltrs. to two cylinder holder and 15 ltrs to those without gas cylinder in tribal area is also being provided. Similarly 3 ltrs. Kerosene-oil is being provided to one cylinder holder and 10 ltrs. to those without gas cylinder in non tribal areas. Under special subsidy schemes edible oil and salt is being provided in all fair price shops. An outlay of Rs. 90 crore has been made on this component for edible oil, pulses and salt to consumers at reasonable rate during the current financial year.
             Dal Channa @ Rs. 25 per kg. dal Urad @ Rs. 25 per kg. , Kala Channa @ Rs. 20 per kg. and salt @ Rs. 4 per kg. per month is being given to the consumers of the State. Similarly edible oil is also being provided @ Rs. 45 per ltrs. to consumers every month besides refined oil @ Rs. 40 per ltrs. per month.
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