Finger millets through FP shops soon

Guntur: As part of providing nutritious food to the poor, the state government will distribute finger millets (ragulu) instead of rice through fair price shops soon. Currently, the civil supplies department is distributing finer millets through fair price shops in four Rayalaseema districts. The white card holders will have option to take either rice or finger millets.

According to sources, the department is making arrangements to distribute finger millets in the remaining nine districts in the state. Following the orders of the department, the revenue officials already asked the fair price shops owners to place indents for finger millets supply. If they get indents from revenue officials, the civil supplies department will supply finger millet to white cardholders instead of rice.

Similarly, in Guntur district also the civil supplies department asked the tahsildars to place indents to supply finger millets. An official on the condition of anonymity, informed that they did not get indents so far. The recycling of PDS rice can be curbed if finger millets supplied through fair price shops in coastal districts.

Some white cardholders are selling PDS rice at Rs 10-12 a kg and purchasing fine quality rice in open market. The traders are recycling the same rice and selling at a higher price. Civil supplies commissioner B Rajasekhar warned the revenue officials on black marketing of PDS rice in Guntur district at a meeting held in Guntur recently.