Give subsidized sugar to AAY card holders: Centre writes to Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Centre today proposed the Odisha government to provide sugar at subsidized price to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) card holders.

In a letter to the Odisha chief secretary Aditya Padhi, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution today proposed distribution of sugar through the Public Distribution System (PDS) under the National Food Security Act.

The Centre has revised the sugar subsidy scheme and decided to give it to the poorest of the poor section of the society or the AAY beneficiaries. Under the National Food Security Act, sugar would be distributed at subsidized price through the PDS to the AAY families, the letter read.

If the State government implements the Centre's proposal, the AAY card holders can get 1 kg of sugar per month at Rs 13.50 per kg instead of the market price of Rs 45 per kg.

However, the State government is currently mulling over the proposal as it will put extra burden on its exchequer. As per reports, it will have to shell out more than Rs 24 crore per year to provide sugar to the 10,70,000 AAY card holders in the State.

"I have sought details from the State Civil Supplies Corporation regarding the expected expenditure in implementing the proposal. We will discuss over the details once received and reply to the Centre," said Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro.