Contrary to the decision of the Central government to stop providing subsidised sugar through Public Distribution System (PDS), the Tripura government has decided to continue supplying sugar at subsidised rate through ration shops, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said today.
"The decision of the Central government to stop supplying of sugar through ration shops is a well-designed plan to abolish the PDS system from this month. We think it is a direct attack on the poor consumers of the country. So our government has decided to provide subsidy and continue distribution of sugar through PDS system," he told reporters.
An amount of one kg of sugar would be provided to each ration card holder at the subsidised price of Rs 13.50 per kg against the market price of Rs 43 per kg and the state government would bear the additional cost.
Sarkar said all the north-eastern states, considered as special category states, should be given ample subsidy in public distribution considering backwardness among other reasons.
He alleged that the UPA government had taken the decision of decontrolling sugar to satisfy the owners of sugar companies.
