Ration rice, atta may cost Rs 2 more

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala finance department has recommended an average hike of Rs 2, per kilo, in the price of food items rationed through the public distribution system in a bid to boost the income of ration dealers. The department has sent the file to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for obtaining the cabinet's nod.

The proposal is to raise Rs 80 crore to provide ration dealers with a better income. The department had initially avoided responding to the traders, but yielded after continued pressure.

The proposal is to raise prices by Rs 2 per kg for food items sold to those in the non-priority groups, holding blue and white cards. The blue card holder gets 2 kg of rice and 3 kg of atta (whole-wheat flour) per month for every member. The white card provides 4 kg rice and 3 kg atta. The current price of atta is Rs 16 per kilo. Both the items will cost Rs 2 more per kilo once the recommendation is accepted and implemented.

A hike in wages for ration dealers, implemented in November last year, saw a Re 1 increase in prices of food items for 75 lakh ration card holders. Those categorised as the poorest of poor under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme of the Centre were exempted.

The finance department has recommended that the monthly minimum wages of ration dealers be raised from Rs 16,000 to Rs 18,000. Those who sell 45 to 72 quintals now get Rs 16,000 including commission and government support. Those who sell up to 45 quintals will get a basic pay of Rs 18,000, which will be topped by a Rs 180 commission for every additional quintal, once the recommendations are implemented.

The proposed package will provide Rs 23,000 for those selling 75 quintal. It will be Rs 27,000 for 100 quintal, Rs 41,400 for 175, and Rs 45,900 for 200. Those whose sales are below 45 quintal will get a financial assistance of Rs 8,500 and a commission of Rs 220 for every quintal sold.

No ration in case of no-show

Those who do not buy rationed food items for three months continuously would be denied ration thereafter. The decision could be enforced in December. Food minister P Thilothaman said those who do not buy for three months will receive notices.

At the same time, if such card-holders notify that they are staying out of the state, they can get the ration again once they return. “We will make enquiries about those who do not buy the ration,” the minister said. “We will consider delivering home if the card holder is sick or unable to travel.”