The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Greater dependence on ration shops for pulses

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Greater dependence on ration shops for pulses

T. Ramakrishnan

Sale of tuvar dhal, black gram and palm oil has seen a steep rise since January

Chennai: An increase or decrease in the offtake of essential commodities from ration shops can be seen as a key indicator of inflationary pressures.

Increase

In Tamil Nadu, the offtake of rice has been more or less stable through the last few months, despite a net increase in the number of ration cards.

“In the last two-three months, we have issued two lakh cards,” says K. Shanmugam, Secretary of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department.

Numerous bogus cards have been eliminated, and a strong drive against diversion has been launched, to ensure that the subsidised rice reaches the poorer sections.

However, since January the sale of toor dhal, black gram and palm oil has seen a steep rise.

In the first half of April the sale of tuvar dhal and palm oil was about 80 per cent of the sale in the entire month of March.

Concessional rates

On Tamil New Year’s Day, April 14, the State government launched the special public distribution system, through which it has been selling tuvar dhal, black gram and palm oil at concessional rates.

Rava, maida and fortified atta (wheat flour) are also sold through ration shops at rates cheaper than those in the open market.

Under the scheme, irrespective of the prices in the open market, the government sells certain commodities at pre-determined prices. For example, prices of tuvar dhal and black gram in the open market range from Rs.42 to Rs. 44 a kg, and that of palm oil is Rs. 53 a litre. But the government sells them at the unit prices of Rs. 32, Rs. 36 and Rs. 40 respectively. These rates will remain unchanged for now.

The Special PDS will be in force till the end of July, according to Mr. Shanmugam. If necessary the scheme will be extended.

Stable offtake

Against the monthly entitlement of ration cardholders of 3.85 lakh tonnes of rice, the Statewide offtake remains at 2.89 lakh tonnes a month.

In the last three months there has been no change in the pattern of offtake at the district level too. The districts of Chennai (South and North), Coimbatore and Erode draw rice in the range of 45 per cent to 50 per cent of their entitlement.

But the figures for Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur districts remain in the range of 87 per cent to 97 per cent.

As regards wheat, the offtake has seen an upward trend in the last four to five years. But two and a half years ago the Central government slashed the allotment to the State.

The State has been urging the Union government to release at least 10,000 tonnes a month. Following this, Tamil Nadu has been getting an ad hoc allotment. The offtake level is over 95 per cent.

Enough stocks

Pointing out that the government has enough stocks of the commodities, the Food Secretary says specific instructions have been given to the field staff not to turn away people coming to the shops asking for rice.

In normal circumstances, the shops that show higher rice offtake are subjected to severe scrutiny to ensure that there is no diversion. Since this has given room for complaints that ration cardholders do not get their entitlement, the field staff have been told to ensure proper supply to the cardholders.

The government has also permitted the Civil Supplies Corporation to procure wheat, rava and maida from Punjab and other States directly and distribute them.

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