Thiruvananathapuram: The distribution of sugar to BPL families from the public distribution system was disrupted during Christmas season as the government did not issue an order for issuing the special sugar quota. The supply of rice from the November quota was not completed in many places and that for December has not been started in ration shops. The BPL families are entitled to get one extra kilo during festival season. The sugar quota was 400 grams per member at a price of Rs 13.50 per kilogram.
However, as per the norms, APL families are not supplied sugar from the PDS. All-India Ration Dealers' Association general secretary Babychan Mukkadan told Deccan Chronicle that there was enough sugar stocks at the ration shops and at the depots of the civil supplies department. Before the introduction of the national food security Act, in October there were only 20 lakh families in the BPL quota.
However, now the number has increased to 32 lakh families. The government would have to spend Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh more for the supply of sugar to BPL families after the introduction of the Act. This needed a special order. However, the government should have at least ensured that the sugar was released to the 20 lakh families included in the BPL list before the food security Act was implemented, Mr Mukkadan said.
