Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for food and civil supplies Anoop Jacob said here on Saturday govt has taken measures to check price rise during Onam season and will intervene effectively in the market.Ration distribution for Aug will begin on Monday. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY/yellow) cardholders will receive 30kg of rice and 2kg of wheat free of cost, besides three packets of atta at Rs 7 each.Each member covered by a priority household (pink) card will receive 4kg of rice and 1kg of wheat free of cost. Subject to availability at ration shops, atta will be provided at Rs 9 in place of wheat.Each member covered by a non-priority subsidy (blue) card will receive 2kg of rice at Rs 4 per kg. Cardholders will also receive 2kg of special-allotment wheat at Rs 8.70 per kg and 3kg of rice at Rs 10.90 per kg. Subject to stock availability in taluks, up to 4kg of atta per card will be supplied at Rs 17 per kg.Non-priority (white) cardholders will receive 7kg of rice at Rs 10.90 per kg and 2kg of wheat under a special allotment at Rs 8.70 per kg. Subject to availability in taluks, up to 4kg of atta per card will also be available at Rs 17 per kg.Cards issued to welfare institutions (brown) will be eligible for 2kg of rice at Rs 10.90 per kg and 2kg of wheat under a special allotment at Rs 8.70 per kg. Subject to stock availability in taluks, a maximum of 1kg of atta will be available at Rs 17.White, blue and brown cardholders will be eligible for an additional allotment of up to 10kg of rice at Rs 26 per kg from Aug 10.During the July-Aug-Sept quarter, yellow cards linked to electrified households will receive one litre of kerosene. Pink, white and blue cards linked to electrified households will receive 0.5 litres, while cards linked to non-electrified households will receive six litres.The minister said 1,65,932 metric tonnes of rice and 24,506 metric tonnes of wheat have been released into the open market this Aug to keep rice prices under control during Onam.“Rice prices have risen in southern states and West Bengal because of climate change and a decline in paddy sales by farmers. Past trends indicate that prices are likely to fall by Sept,” he said.
