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Our Bureau

New Delhi, Nov. 19 With the pressure of elections looming large, the Centre has officially ruled out any increase in the issue price of foodgrains channelised through the public distribution system (PDS).

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha on Monday whether the Centre has decided to hike the issue price of grains under the targeted PDS, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Dr Akhilesh Prasad Singh’s answer was unambiguous: “No, Sir. Does not arise”.

The Minister further admitted that the food subsidy Bill for the current fiscal would far exceed the amount provided for in the Union Budget.

“The Food Corporation of Indiahas informed that the requirement of funds under the food subsidy is likely to increase by Rs 15,563.11 crore over the Budget Estimate of Rs 25,424.89 crore,” he stated.

The Central issue prices have not been revised since July 1, 2002, when they were fixed for the population below poverty line at Rs 4.15 a kg for wheat and Rs 5.65 a kg for rice. The above poverty line rates have similarly been pegged at Rs 6.10 a kg for wheat, Rs 7.95 for common rice and Rs 8.30 for grade ‘A’ rice.

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