Centre helps the not-so-needy

The government has now decided to sell wheat and rice at subsidised rates to all ration card holders through its fare price shops. The decision will benefit more than 13.5 lakh families in Delhi who have ration cards.

The central government seems to have finally realised that rising prices on food items have impacted the middle class families too.

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The government has now decided to sell wheat and rice at subsidised rates to all ration card holders through its fare price shops. The decision will benefit more than 13.5 lakh families in Delhi who have ration cards.

According to Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf, Delhiites, who were not eligible to buy wheat and rice from government's fair price shops, will soon be able to buy it at subsidised rates.

“This will not only provide essential food items at subsidised rates but will also help control prices in open market too,” Yusuf said.

While wheat will be available at Rs 8.42 per kg, the cost of rice will be Rs 11.85 per kg.

The central government, however, has yet to decide on total allocation of additional wheat and rice for Delhi.

“Once that is decided, we will be able to finalise how much rice and wheat a card holder will be able to buy each month,” said Yusuf.

According to senior food and civil supplies officers, people above poverty line (APL), who earn more than Rs one lakh per annum, are otherwise not eligible to buy ration on their cards. APL cardholders with income less than Rs one lakh (about 14.6 lakh), below poverty line and Antodaya (poorest section) (4.09 lakh in total) is eligible for subsidy.