Coimbatore, Nov. 2: More than 9.92 lakh Public Distribution System (PDS) cardholders are eligible to get sugar from 420 ration shops in Coimbatore district. Of that, 52,291 PDS card holders are in Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme, meant for people below poverty line.
Officials say that subsidy is not cancelled for sugar but price has been raised. In private shops sugar is sold up to Rs 35 to 45 a kg. “Every month in Coimbatore district 514 tonnes of sugar is distributed to the PDS cardholders. The State government has been charging Rs 13.50 for a kg of sugar sold through the PDS shops so far. But from November 1 onwards the price has been raised to Rs 25 per kg for PDS cardholders. But those in AAY scheme will continue to get sugar at Rs 13.50 only,” said an official.
Public here condemned this price hike. They said the sugar price hike would be a burden on the poor, and the middle class families.They pointed out that already the subsidy for LPG had been reduced. The current hike of Rs 11.50 per kg for sugar is highly condemnable. If this process continues the price of all other products would also go up. State government should withdraw this price hike,” said K.S. Abdul Rahman, one of the PDS card holders.
Sugar is a basic need . Already the prices of various goods have gone up because of GST. The hike in sugar price will be an added burden, lamented another PDS beneficiary.
Officials say that subsidy is not cancelled for sugar but price has been raised. In private shops sugar is sold up to Rs 35 to 45 a kg. “Every month in Coimbatore district 514 tonnes of sugar is distributed to the PDS cardholders. The State government has been charging Rs 13.50 for a kg of sugar sold through the PDS shops so far. But from November 1 onwards the price has been raised to Rs 25 per kg for PDS cardholders. But those in AAY scheme will continue to get sugar at Rs 13.50 only,” said an official.
Public here condemned this price hike. They said the sugar price hike would be a burden on the poor, and the middle class families.They pointed out that already the subsidy for LPG had been reduced. The current hike of Rs 11.50 per kg for sugar is highly condemnable. If this process continues the price of all other products would also go up. State government should withdraw this price hike,” said K.S. Abdul Rahman, one of the PDS card holders.
Sugar is a basic need . Already the prices of various goods have gone up because of GST. The hike in sugar price will be an added burden, lamented another PDS beneficiary.