Puducherry, Nov 29 (PTI): Chief Minister of Puducherry N Rangasamy on Monday launched the free rice and sugar scheme started by the government of the Union Territory for families covered under the public distribution system (PDS). The launch took place in a village near here.

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The scheme envisages distribution of 10 kg rice and two kg sugar to each of the 2,72,525 families holding either red colour or yellow colour ration cards. This involved an expenditure of Rs 13.30 crore, a press release said. The families are getting the freebies irrespective of their income status.

Civil Supplies Minister of the Union Territory Sai J Saravana Kumar and secretary to Civil Supplies Udayakumar were also present.

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The scheme was to be launched prior to Deepavali, but finalisation of the tenders to procure rice and sugar was delayed. The government has now finalised the tenders and launched the scheme.

The products would be available through Civil Supplies Corporation-run fair price shops or those operated by private licencees.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)