Big Ration Announcement During Puja Week! Flour, Sugar and Semolina at 50% Discount, What Will Be the Prices?
IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata: The Puja season, the West Bengal government has announced a special festive ration package for millions of people across the state. Under the package, more than 8 crore ration cardholders will be able to purchase flour, sugar and semolina at a 50 per cent discount during the Puja week.
Speaking at a press conference at Nabanna on Saturday morning, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that 1 kg of flour, 1 kg of sugar and 500 grams of semolina would be made available through the ration system at half the regular price. The state government has allocated Rs 150 crore for the scheme.
The announcement, 1 kg of flour will be available at Rs 19 while 1 kg of sugar will cost Rs 30 under the festive package. The price of 500 grams of semolina has not yet been finalised. The government said the tender process for semolina is currently underway.
The Chief Minister said that during the Puja week, more than 8 crore ration cardholders across the state would receive the benefit of the package at a 50 per cent discount. The remaining 50 per cent of the cost will be borne by the state government. Of the Rs 150 crore allocated by the government, the tender process for flour and sugar has already been completed while the process for semolina is expected to be completed soon.
Around 2.12 crore families are currently covered under the ration system in West Bengal. The special festive package will be extended to every ration cardholding family in the state. Food Minister Ashok Kirtania had announced the festive package on Friday, although the prices of the individual items had not been disclosed at that time.
The Food Department had initially considered distributing the items completely free of cost during the festive season. However, keeping the present financial situation of the state in mind, the government decided to provide the products at a 50 per cent discount this year instead. The Food Minister had also indicated that if the state's financial position remains sustainable, the government may consider providing these festive items free of cost from next year.
The announcement has also raised questions about whether similar benefits would be available during other religious festivals. Responding to the issue, the Food Minister said the government does not believe in dividing people on the basis of religion. He stressed that the Puja package was not intended exclusively for any particular community.
The government's stated position, the benefit will be available to all 2.12 crore ration cardholding families in West Bengal, irrespective of their religious identity. The festive ration package is therefore being presented as a statewide benefit for ration cardholders during the Puja season.
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