Now Reading: Bengal to give 2 crore families subsidised flour, sugar for Durga Puja
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Bengal to give 2 crore families subsidised flour, sugar for Durga Puja
The West Bengal government has announced a 50 percent subsidy on flour, sugar and semolina for over two crore ration card-holding families during the Durga Puja festival. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the festive package on Saturday, 3 October.
Eligible families will get flour at Rs 19 per kg and sugar at Rs 30 per kg. Each family will also receive 500 grams of semolina, though its price is yet to be fixed as the procurement process is ongoing. The subsidy will be distributed through the public distribution system (PDS).
The food and supplies department has been allocated a budget of Rs 150 crore for the scheme. The government said the initiative will benefit over eight crore people and aims to shield families from rising market prices during the festive season.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The subsidy targets over two crore ration card-holding families, or roughly eight crore individuals, in a direct bid to check festive-season price rises. By adding flour and semolina to what was previously a sugar-only scheme, the government has broadened the package's reach. The Rs 150 crore budget indicates a significant fiscal outlay for a state-level PDS intervention. The semolina price remains unresolved as its tender process is still underway, meaning the full subsidy value per family is not yet known. Distribution will proceed through the existing PDS network during Durga Puja.
Source: amarujala.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
