PUDUCHERRY: Ration card holders in Puducherry will get half a litre of free sunflower oil along with 10 kilograms of free rice every month.
A government notification was issued earlier this month by the Lieutenant governor . It will come into effect from the November.
The government discontinued the distribution of free wheat after the card holders refused to take wheat from the Fair price shops through which it was supplied. Their contention being that the wheat supplied was mixed with non-edible products and the quality of the wheat grains were also of sub-standard quality. Political parties also protested against the All India NR Congress government in this regard.
The Chief Minister N Rangasamy after inspection of the wheat in FPS had directed the Department of Civil supplies and Consumer affairs not to go ahead with the distribution. After much consideration , the government has decided to provide sunflower oil.
There are around 3.21 ration card holders in the Union territory who could avail the benefits of the new scheme.