Public deprived of edible oil from PDS items
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 21 2012:
In addition to deprivation of edible oil which is included in the PDS item list to the people of the State by the government for quite a long time, the public have not been even informed about the said facility.
The scheme for distribution of subsidized imported edible oils is being taken up by the Union Government all over the country since 2007.However, during those time, edible oils (Pam and Soya oil) which are included in the list of PDS items was not commonly used among the people of the state.
Instead they preferred mustard oil.
But now, the people of the state have become more health conscious and the trend of consuming these edible oils increased.
Since the State government does not distribute the said edible oils at subsidised rates under the PDS items, the people of the state still are not aware of them as being included among PDS items.
Meanwhile, the Scheme which is supposedly being implemented throughout the country through the respective State governments and Union territories has been extended till September 30, 2013 .
According to official sources, the edible oils which are to be made available to the public include Pam and Soya oil.
The Scheme was initially valid upto March 31, 2009, but extended upto March 2010 later on.
It was again extended upto September 30, 2011.Later on, the Scheme was further extended upto September 30, 2012 with a subsidy of Rs 15 per kg.
Now, the government has yet again decided to extend the said Scheme upto September 30, 2013.In connection with the extension order issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the State Governments have been asked to submit monthly requirement of imported edible oils in tonnes (Palm and Soya Oil only) for the period upto September 30, 2013.The order also requested the details of the state and Union Territory government agencies, which are responsible for implementation of the Scheme, so that allocation of oil quotas could be made.