Ragi powder and chickpea will be distributed through ration shops from next month, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies G.R. Anil has said. The State government had in July sought the Union government's assistance to distribute these commodities instead of wheat atta, which has been in short supply. Distribution will begin on a pilot basis in the districts of Palakkad, Wayanad, Idukki and in one ration shop in each panchayat in other districts.
The Union government had discontinued the tide-over allocation of 6,459.074 tonnes of wheat to the State in May. This had led to the denial of wheat supply to 50 lakh ration cardholders belonging to non-priority sections that were not covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the State.
