3kg to be supplied on each card initially
VISAKHAPATNAM (Andhra Pradesh): In order to meet the objective of changing the food habits of people for a healthy living, distribution of millets — ragulu, jonnalu and sajjalu — will be launched through fair price shops all over the State from September, according to Minister for Civil Supplies Prathipati Pulla Rao. Initially 3 kg of millets would be given on each card at Rs. 1 a kg for those preferring it, and to that extent quantity of rice would be reduced, the Minister told reporters here.
If demand increased, the quantity would be raised to 5 kg. Quality ragulu (finger millet) would be purchased from Karnataka at Rs. 30 a kg. Jonnalu (sorghum) was available in Rayalaseema. At present, ragulu were being sold at fair price shops on a pilot basis in Anantapur and Chittoor districts and parts of Krishna district where more cases of diabetes and heart diseases were reported, he said.
Penalties
The Minister said a government survey revealed that 70% of people were eating the rice distributed through the fair price shops and some quantity was being ‘rolled over’ with some selling it away at grocery shops. Introducing ragi would help reduce such circulation, he said. In West Godavari, millers formed an association and were imposing a fine of Rs. 2.5 lakh on those resorting to such practices, he said.
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