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Free rice scheme to continue

Special Correspondent

96 pc of cardholders utilising it, says Rangasamy

Pondicherry: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy told the AIADMK member, A. Anbalagan, during question hour on Monday that the free rice scheme (launched on the occasion of birth anniversary of Kamaraj on July 15) would continue.

He said that ten kilos rice a month would continue to be available to each of the 2,99,924 families covered under the family ration card system in the Union Territory at a cost of Rs 3.47 crore a month. He said that there was extensive patronage of the scheme; 96 per cent of the cardholders were utilising the scheme, he said.

`Can be weighed'

From the current month onwards, the ration cardholders could weigh the rice at the fair price shops before taking delivery.

Mr. Rangasamy said that the purpose was to ensure that quality rice was available to the consumers. Earlier Mr. Anbalagan said he welcomed the scheme wholeheartedly, but wanted to point out that only the families coming under Below Poverty Line (BPL) should be covered under this. Because of the indiscriminate operation of the scheme, it was benefiting the affluent sections of the people.

He felt that if the scheme was restricted to the BPL families, they could get more than ten kilos rice a month.

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