Chennai: The government has announced that it will discontinue the scheme of providing pulses and palm
oil at ration shops due to a severe financial crunch.
Since 2007, under the Special Public Distribution System (SPDS) in tamil Nadu, cardholders have been
able to purchase one kilogram of toor dal for Rs. 30, one kilogram of urad dal for Rs. 30, and one litre of
palm oil for Rs. 25. However, the supply of urad dal was stopped in 2008, and Canadian turmeric dal or
toor dal was offered instead.
The tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation procures 20,000 tonnes of toor dal and 2 crore litres of palm
oil from private companies every month through tenders. However, due to price fluctuations and a
financial crisis, the government is facing difficulties in procuring these items. The finance department is
also delaying the allocation and approval of funds for pulses and palm oil.
As a result, cardholders are not being supplied with dal and palm oil every month, as the tender for pulses
is often cancelled. Despite promises made by M.K. that if voted back to power, one kilogram of urad dal
and sugar would be given to each ration cardholder, this has not been accomplished.
Due to the financial crunch, the government has decided to discontinue the special public distribution
system for supplying pulses and palm oil. However, officials and employees have suggested that instead
of stopping the project, the loopholes in the system should be addressed.
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