GOOD NEWS FOR APL CARDHOLDERS

Rice and wheat for APL cardholders

The state government has taken a measure to provide rice and wheat from modified ration shops to the above poverty line (APL) cardholders. The APL cardholders would get rice and wheat at the rate of Rs 12.70 and Rs 9.70 respectively. The APL cardholders are to get 500-gram of rice and wheat per head in a week. The facility is going to be extended to them from the ongoing week according to the state food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary.

The minister said the Centre has allotted 6975 metric-ton rice and that are being disbursed at the hills, tea gardens and tribal dominated areas (Jangal Mahal) at the rate of Rs 9. They have asked the Centre to continue the facility in those areas. The state also received an additional allotment of 81,063 MT of rice and 1,65,828 MT of wheat from the Centre. These would be disbursed through the MR shops to the APL cardholders. The APL cardholders were receiving less quantity of rice till now and from now on the situation would be improved, he hoped. He however admitted that the allotted quantity of rice and wheat was not enough to meet the actual demand. Mr Adhikary assured that they would try to extend all promised facilities to the APL cardholders and every effort would be taken to maintain it.

Warning the dishonest owners of the rice mills the food minister said they would take stern measures against the mill owners who were taking out rice to outer states without submitting their stipulated levies. The state government already lodged complaints against 12 defaulters and one was also arrested. All the district magistrates were being asked to take strict steps against the offenders, the minister said.

Mr Adhikary claimed that the government already acquired 11 MT of rice during the ongoing year. The target of collection is 18 MT. In the last year they were able to acquire 16 MT of rice, he added.