State starts allocating sugar, flour & other necessities to AAY, SPHH holders

Kolkata: Bengal's Food and Supplies department has started allocating sugar, flour, mustard oil and rice bran oil to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and State Priority Ration Card (SPHH) holders of the state as part of its festive package. Both of these categories of card holders comes under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 that aims to provide subsidised food grains to approximately two thirds of the country's population.

The festive package will be given on a fortnight basis in two phases.

"The first phase that has already begun from Friday will continue till September 27 while the second will be October 11 to 25," a senior official of the Food and Supplies department said adding that the Mamata Banerjee government has been providing this special package during the Puja days for the last few years marking the occasion of Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Chatth Puja. In each of the two phases, 500 gm of sugar and the same quantity of flour will be offered. A total amount of 8,092 metric tonne of sugar and the same quantity of flour has been earmarked for distribution. The rate for sugar will be Rs 38.50 per kg while that of flour will be Rs 22 per kg. A litre each of mustard oil and rice bran oil will also be given in two phases as part of the package. "The mustard oil that will be part of the festive package will be priced at Rs 91.50 a litre, while rice bran oil will come at Rs 89.50 per litre," the official said.