No rice for APL card holders for 2 months!

All the APL card holders in the district have not received rice through PDS since two months. The card holders have been visiting the ration shops to enquire on the availability of the food grains daily.

There are 46,400 APL card holders in Kodagu district. Even if there are minimum of three persons in a family, then more than one lakh members are denied of the facility from the government.

The APL card holders are  entitled to get 10 kg rice at Rs 10 per kg. Similarly, they should be given three kg wheat at Rs 8 per kg. The card holders without LPG connections should get three litre kerosene in rural areas and five litres in urban areas.

The rise in prices of essential commodities has affected even the APL families and they have started purchasing foodgrains from PDS as they are cheaper compared to market price.

Reduction in quantity

On the other hand, the quantity of foodgrains supplied to the BPL card holders has also been cut.  For 69,500 BPL card holders in the district, the quantity was cut in April and May. As against 16 kg rice for a family of four members, 15 kg rice was supplied. Even for a family of five members, the quantity was 15 kg as against ealier 20 kg rice. Similarly, the quantity of wheat has also been reduced. Thre was no change in quantity of kerosene .There was no problem for the Antyodaya card holders.  All the Antyodaya card holders have received the ration in time. The grains for the Antyodaya card holders are released directly by the Central government.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Food and Civil Supplies Deputy Director Mahadevappa said “foodgrains were supplied to the district normally during the first week of every month. However, the foodgrains have not yet reached us for the APL card holders for the month of April itself.”