The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Minister wants distribution of Pongal gift packs to be smooth

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Sunday, Dec 21, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Minister wants distribution of Pongal gift packs to be smooth

Special Correspondent

E.V. Velu

CHENNAI: Pongal gift packs will be distributed free to ration cardholders from January 1 to 14. Non-commodity cardholders are not eligible.

Each pack consists of rice and jaggery of 500 gms each, 100 gms of green gram, and 20 gms of cashew, cardamom and dry grapes.

Minister for Food E.V.Velu who reviewed the working of public distribution system in the State with officials here on Friday and Saturday instructed them that there should not be any complaint from cardholders on distribution of the gift packs.

The Minister said after the introduction of special PDS in the State, prices of essential articles had come down.

The price of palm oil which was Rs 58 a kg came down sharply after the PDS price was reduced to Rs 30 a kg last week. He said cardholders should be able to get their rations on any day in a month. On no account they should be denied of their ration.

For this, officials should ensure adequate stock of commodities in the ration shops. Fair price shop employees also should not insist on cardholders to purchase any non-ration commodity while availing of their monthly ration.

Regional managers of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation should stock adequate quantities of commodities in the godowns and should intent stock from the Corporation whenever there was shortage. They should not over-stock the commodities in the godowns but dispatch them to the fair price shops at regular intervals.

Food Secretary K.Shanmugham, Commissioner of Civil Supplies K.Rajaraman, and Civil Supplies Corporation Satyabrata Sahoo were also present.

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