Awaiting distribution order, Atta-Dal dealers return stock

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 27

It sounds strange but true. The Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries in Muktsar district are waiting for rations, but the authorities concerned have returned the stock in their possession. The reason: They did not have any official order to start the distribution.

The last time pulses were distributed for three months among the beneficiaries in Muktsar district was in March. Similarly, wheat was also distributed for three months in March.

Paramjit Dhamija, District Food and Civil Supplies Controller, Muktsar, said, “Pulses were last distributed in March. Thereafter, we did not get the orders from the higher-ups to start the distribution work. However, PUNSUP, which supplies us pulses, had the stock for distribution purposes.”

Muktsar district has 1,41,601 blue card holders and 5,21,912 beneficiaries of the Atta-Dal scheme. As per the scheme, wheat is given at Rs 2 per kg and pulses at Rs 30 per kg to the beneficiaries of the Atta-Dal scheme.

There is no upper cap for the distribution of wheat, but pulses have to be given 0.5 kg per member and for maximum five persons in the family.

Sources in the PUNSUP said the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department were informed that they had the stock of black grams, but the distribution agency did not take the stock from them. This made them return the stock in their possession to the sellers.

Courtesy: The Tribune