April 17, 2008:A Spokesman of the State Government said here today that Government was committed for welfare of weaker sections of the society. He said that Government was providing essential commodities like pulses, wheat, rice, iodized salt, food grains and oil on subsidized rates to ration card holders in the State.He said that keeping in view, the complaints regarding quality of Malka Dal from field, the Government had taken a decision to replace MaIka with Black Channa and the decision was conveyed to the Director Food & Supplies and the Managing Director, Civil Supplies Corporation on 7th April, 08 and the Managing Director H.P. State Civil Supplies Corporation had floated tenders for Black Channa also on 9th April, 08 which have been opened today on 17th April, 08. The Cabinet in its meeting held on 11th April, 08 only approved this change, he added.
The Spokesman said that the Govt. of India has floated a scheme of supplying imported Palmoline Refined Oil to the States and the matter was placed before the Cabinet and a decision was taken that Palmoline Refined Oil may be provided in place of Soyabean Refined Oil as and when it is available from Government of India. He further said that as per information received from the Government of India, Palmoline Refined Oil will not be available before June 2008 and, therefore, the State Government will keep on supplying 1 ltr. Mustard Oil and 1 ltr. Soyabean Refined Oil to each family as before. He said that the ration card holder will have choice to take either 2 liters of one type of edible oil or 1 liter of each type as before.
He said that the quantity of total wheat & rice to one family in a month has been restricted to 35 kg. as per 'direction of the Government of India in this regard. He added that as per Government of India directions, no family can be given total food grains more than 35 kg per month and, therefore, the state Government has no option but to follow the guidelines.
The Spokesman said that Government has also decided to restrict total food grain (wheat & rice) to 20 kg. per month to single member family (single person having a ration card) and added that this has been done to prevent misuse of food grains because normally a single person will not consume more than 20 kg. food grain. He said that the scheme of providing wheat flour at maximum rate of Rs. 8/per kg. and Rice at the maximum rate of Rs. 9/- per kg. will also continue as before without any change.
