With Diwali approaching nearer, the ration card holders are wondering whether they would receive sugar from PDS shops. However, Dehradun food and civil supply officer assured people that they are taking steps to ensure that sugar reaches the PDS shops in adequate quantity on time.
Sugar is being sold at around `36/40 per kg in the markets while the price of the essential kitchen item has been kept at `13.50 per kg at the PDS outlets.
The people, who have been hit hard by the present trend of rising prices of the edible items, said they would be relieved if sugar is supplied to them at the subsidised prices against their ration cards before and during the Diwali.
Statistics reveal that the State Government has been providing sugar to the ration card holders during Diwali festival every year except for a few occasions.
Naina Bisht, resident of Pragati Vihar, who belongs to APl category, said she had recently approached the local PDS dealer for sugar. "The dealer told me that they had no idea whether sugar would be distributed this time among the card holders. If not, we would be in trouble. Though the quantity of sugar provided by the department is not enough for our need it relieves us a great deal. Now things are grimmer with the price of sugar going up, making it beyond our reach," she added.
Sohan Uniyal, resident of Kewal Vihar, said that it is good that the Government would provide sugar during Diwali to the card holders this year. "We did not receive it for some years," he said.
Uttaranchal Fair Price Dealers' Association (UFPDA) president Jitendra Gupta said that they are yet to be confirmed from the department about sugar to be distributed among the cardholders for Diwali.
"However, as Diwali is approaching the ration card holders are enquiring daily. We are worried as a few years ago, sugar was provided to the dealers after Diwali was over. We hope this would not happen this time," he added.
SS Thapa, Dehradun- based PDS dealer, said that sugar is provided to the dealers twice or thrice a year for distribution among the card holders.
"However, we are not getting the required quantity of sugar from the godowns. So, how can we provide 2.5 kg of sugar per card under PDS schemeIJ People create nuisance over being denied the quantity they are entitled under the scheme. They don't listen to our reasoning," he said.
Giving this information, Dehradun food and civil supply officer PS Pangti said that he has taken measures to ensure that the ration card holders receive sugar for Diwali festival this year too. "The department officers are working hard in this direction," he assured.
He added that they had earlier written to the State Govt regarding distribution of sugar among the ration card holders during Diwali. "The Government has approved it. Around 1,000 mts of sugar have been allocated for Dehradun district alone. Now, the dept officers are lifting sugar from RFC godowns. Once this process is completed the PDS dealers will be directed to procure
sugar from the godowns and distribute it among the card holders on time," he said, adding that 2.5 kg sugar would be given to the card holders at the rate of `13.50 per kg.