KOCHI: Nearly six lakh of Kerala’s poorest households may have to forgo their daily cup of sweetened tea, after sugar was temporarily withdrawn from the ration distribution system under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).
Sugar, usually supplied at a subsidised rate of Rs 27 per kg to yellow card holders, has been “disabled” in the electronic point-of-sale (ePOS) system, effectively halting distribution across the state. The disruption comes even as the April-May 2026 ration policy had earmarked 1kg of sugar per month for AAY beneficiaries.
A communication from civil supplies department said distribution was paused as “permission has not been received from the government for the distribution of sugar for financial year 2026-27.” Ration distribution for April and May began on April 4.
The halt is expected to affect nearly six lakh AAY families, among the most economically vulnerable, who depend on subsidised essentials for daily sustenance.
Kerala’s extensive public distribution system amplifies the impact of such disruptions. The state has over 95 lakh valid ration cards and 13,912 ration shops. Even a temporary interruption in the supply of a single essential commodity tends to ripple across households statewide.
Kerala State Retail Ration Dealers’ Association organising secretary N Shijeer said the sudden move had caused confusion. “Beneficiaries are arriving at shops expecting sugar, but we are unable to distribute it due to the system restriction,” he said.
Shijeer noted that until 2012, all ration card holders were eligible for subsidised sugar, after which the benefit was restricted to yellow card holders. “Now only around six lakh out of nearly 95 lakh ration card holders are eligible. The subsidised price was Rs 21 earlier and was revised to Rs 27 last year. There is steady demand for sugar through ration shops,” he said.
Open market sugar prices have shown a clear upward trend over the years, adding to the burden on low-income families. According to the “Retail Prices of Essential Commodities: Analysis Report” by the department of economics and statistics, after dipping to Rs 29.06 per kg in 2015 from Rs 34.84 in 2012, sugar prices rose sharply, touching Rs 43.12 in 2017. The prices began climbing again from 2022, reaching an annual average of Rs 45.54 in 2025. Monthly prices remained above Rs 43 through 2025, peaking near Rs 46.
With no clarity yet on when distribution will resume, both dealers and beneficiaries are hoping for an early resolution to restore an essential kitchen staple.