1 Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009 SSS-AKG/11.00/1A ...

216Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009come under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana are also eligible to get 35kilograms of wheat and rice per family per month, and the price, whichwas fixed in 2002, is Rs.2 per kilogram of wheat and Rs.3 per kilogramof rice. Till today, the same price pattern has been there. We have notchanged that, though the minimum support price for wheat and rice hasbeen substantially hiked. But this section of the society are, for yearstogether and even today, getting 35 kilograms of rice and wheat at thisparticular price.(Contd. by 4D/RG)RG/6.20/4DSHRI SHARAD PAWAR (contd.): So, we have the PDS and the AAY.There are about six crore families, that is, 30 crores of people, of thiscountry, who have taken full advantage of these schemes. Anotherdecision was taken by this Government to introduce a new category,called, the APL, that is, Above Poverty Line. Now, the people of thiscategory are also entitled to get the foodgrains under the PDS. But itdepends on availability. In the last few years, 10-12 kgs. of wheat andrice have been provided to the APL category. There is an exception tothe States of the North-East, Jammu and Kashmir, hilly States, Andamanand Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, where we are even supplying 35kgs. for the APL category. But the other States are getting around 10-11 kgs per family per month. And, if the availability improves, then, theGovernment will, happily, take a decision to enhance this quantity aswell. Along with these, our effort is also to see to it that there isavailability in the local market. Now, there are a number of familieswho do not want to go to ration shops. They are not generally