MUMBAI, Jan 29: The state government has finally realised that empty stomachs will not be able to pull votes in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. To provide a breather to the constituents of this state, it has decided to provide wheat flour at subsidised rates through its Public Distribution System (PDS) in Maharashtra.However, the government has maintained that the motive behind the decision is to control wheat prices in Maharashtra.
At present, wheat is available at a price of Rs 5 per kg at the ration shops in the state. In addition to this wheat, atta (wheat flour) will be made available at a rate of Rs 7 per kg. However, the buyer will be free to purchase any one from the two or both at the same time.
In Maharashtra, it is the practice to buy wheat, clean it at home and get it crushed from the floor mills. This gives prime importance to retail sellers and stockists of wheat, who make hefty profits by black-marketing the foodgrain. The government intends to reduce monopoly of these two byintroducing the `ready to use' wheat.
The scheme will be introduced on an experimental basis for a month so that the government finds out all possible loopholes in it. To start with, the state will buy an additional 10,000 metric tons of wheat from the central government, apart from its regular quota of 80,000 metric tons of wheat. The wheat will be distributed to flour mills at the district level for crushing.
The government will impose certain norms on the mills to ensure good quality atta. It is learnt that representatives of mill owners have promised the government that they will provide as high as 90 per cent atta from the wheat provided to them. (If the government gives 1 kg wheat to the mill, it will receive 900 grams of atta.) The government has decided that it will provide Argentinian wheat to the mills.
The wheat will be made available in 5 kg and 50 kg polythene bags. The former will be sold for Rs 35 while the latter will be priced at Rs 325. The ration shops will be given two months toclear the stock and will not be issued the next quota till they clear it. The polythene bags will have printed on them the date of manufacture, date of expiry and maximum retail price.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
