APL beneficiaries to finally get their food grains at nominal rates

With the model code of conduct relaxed in the state, as many as 13.19 lakh people falling in the Above Poverty Line (APL) category in Pune division can heave a huge sigh of relief

With the model code of conduct relaxed in the state, as many as 13.19 lakh people falling in the Above Poverty Line (APL) category in Pune division can heave a huge sigh of relief.

APL families are orange ration cardholders who are entitled to receive food grains at the nominal rates of Rs 9.20 per kg for wheat and Rs 7.60 per kg for rice. However, they have not been receiving their quota since the month of March, with the Election Commission (EC) announcing the model code of conduct on March 5.

However, having received a nod from the EC on Wednesday, the district food and supply department will now start distributing the food grains to the APL beneficiaries on a war footing, through fair price shops in the division. Pune district alone has 5.68 lakh APL beneficiaries. 

“The state had decided to distribute the food grains for APL since March. However, as the nationwide model code of conduct was announced in March, the implementation was on hold for the last three months,” said Prakash Kadam, assistant commissioner of the food and supply department of Pune division.

He added that the department was working on checking the list of APL beneficiaries in the division. 

5.68 Lakh
The number of APL beneficiaries in Pune district

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