Govt increases PDS supplies for two months to ease prices

The government today decided to step up ration supplies of wheat and rice by 10 kg per eligible family during January and February to ease prices of these commodities.

The allocation would be over and above 35 kg of rice and wheat supplied to each eligible family now.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Prices, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

"An ad-hoc allocation of 10 kg per family per month over and above the existing allocation of foodgrains (wheat and rice) will be made for two months -- January and February, 2010 to cover all accepted cardholders," an official statement said.

The CCP also reviewed the prices of essential commodities, including pulses, sugar, potato and onion.

The additional allocation (10kg) of wheat and rice would be made at Minimum Support Price of Rs 10.80 per kg for wheat and Rs 15.37 for rice. The prevailing prices differ for various categories with Antodya Anna Yojna cardholders getting wheat at Rs two per kg and rice at Rs 3 a kg.

Those eligible for the allocation include holders of Antodya Anna Yojna cards and Below Poverty Line families.