Puducherry govt restores free rice, wheat under PDS

Chief Minister N Rangasamy today announced free 10 kg rice and 5 kg wheat per month under the PDS to eligible families replacing the 2-month old system of disbursing Rs 300 per family through banks, as he presented Rs 6,450-crore tax free state budget for 2015-16.
Government had modified the scheme discontinuing supply of 10 kg rice to the families and started disbursing Rs 300 per month to them through banks since March this year.
Rangasamy said 10 kg single boiled rice and 5 kg wheat would be distributed to all card holders from May.
He announced total VAT exemption for aviation turbine fuel for aircraft with a maximum take-off mass of less than 40,000 kg retrospectively from Dec 29, 2014, more aid to fishermen's families in the fishing ban period and rise in old age pension.

He said the State Planning Board had recommended to the Centre a draft budget size of Rs 6,800 crore for 2015-16. But considering the revised current resources inflow from the Centre, it was revised to Rs 6,450 crore, comprising Rs 2,700 crore under plan and Rs 3,750 crore under non plan, he said.
Besides, Rs 40 crore was envisaged through external commercial borrowings to augment infrastructure funding.

In the last fiscal, total revenue from various departments was Rs 1,314.09 crore, a growth of 4.57 per cent over the preceding year, he said. "This was achieved in spite of reduction in sales prices of petrol and diesel", Rangasamy said.

He said VAT exemption for aviation turbine fuel was part of efforts to promote tourism and tourism related industries.
On the increased aid to fishermen's families, he said the assistance would be Rs 5,500 instead of Rs 4,000 paid so far. The ban period from April 14 has been raised to 61 days now.
The CM said the pension for beneficiaries in the 55-59 age bracket would be hiked to Rs 1,500 from Rs 1,100 from this year. Those in 60-79 year age group would be paid Rs 2,000 a month while those above 80 years would be paid Rs 3,000 a month.

Widows, destitute women, unmarried women and trans-genders would be paid an increased monthly aid of Rs 1,500 and the age limit for getting the pension would be reduced from 40 years to 21 years for trans-genders, he said.
Earlier when the CM started presenting the budget, opposition AIADMK legislators protested, alleging that none of the promises made had been implemented.
Legislature party leader P Purushothaman and his colleagues also waved placards in protest.
Speaker V Sabapathy repeatedly asked them not to disrupt proceedings, but in vain.
All legislators (except L Periasamy) of AIADMK staged a walkout but returned a few minutes later.

After the budget presentation, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings to April 27.