Lieutenant-Governor gives in-principle approval for distribution of free rice through PDS outlets

Puducherry ration shops set to reopen after 5 years with Lieutenant-Governor's approval for free rice distribution.

The ration shops in Puducherry may become alive once again after more than five years as Lieutenant-Governor C. P Radhakrishnan has taken a favourable stand on the Cabinet’s decision to distribute free rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets instead of transferring money to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

A government source said the Lieutenant-Governor has given an in-principle approval to the fresh proposal put up before him by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, which sought his nod for the distribution of rice through ration shops.

“After the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for Lok Sabha polls was lifted, the Chief Minister submitted a file seeking the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor, who has now given in-principle approval. Now, we have to work out the modalities to reopen the ration shops and put in place a mechanism for the procurement of rice following all the guidelines,” an official told The Hindu.

Ration shops in the Union Territory became dysfunctional in 2019 following differences of opinion between the then Lieutenant-Governor Kiran Bedi and the previous government, which was headed by Congress leader V. Narayanasamy, on several administrative matters, including the execution of the government’s free rice scheme.

Ms. Bedi was not in favour of the distribution of rice through the PDS outlets following complaints on the quality of rice supplied and issues with procurement. As differences of opinion emerged between the titular head and the elected government, the subject was referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Following the advice of MHA to adopt the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode for Puducherry’s free rice distribution scheme, the Congress government, after raising strong objection, agreed for the cash transfer mode in lieu of rice. Since then, around 430 ration shops in the Union Territory have remained closed, with the workers of the PDS outlets and various political parties staging protests demanding the reopening of the shops.

After the AINRC-BJP government came to power in 2021, Mr. Rangasamy had also approached the then Lieutenant-Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan to revert to the old pattern of distribution of rice instead of cash transfer. However, the DBT method for free rice scheme continued for want of approval.