Those not under NFSA will now have to pay 30/kg for rice in Mizoram

AIZAWL: Food & civil supplies minister B Lalchhanzova on Wednesday said those not covered under the National Food Security Act will now have to pay Rs 30 for a kg of rice instead of Rs 15.
Addressing a press meet here, Lalchhanzova said this will help the state save Rs 5,25,93,072 in a month and over Rs 63.11 crore per annum. Justifying the decision, he said other states in the country are not distributing rice at subsidised rates to families not covered by NFSA.
A recent meeting of the council of ministers has also decided to do away with the special rice quota for CM, ministers, legislators and Group 'A' employees and above, the minister said. A similar appeal will be made to those who do not require subsidised rice, he added.
The state procures about 97,000 quintals of rice per month, of which it gets 37,000 quintals free of cost from the Centre. Lalchhanzova said 14,000 quintals of rice are procured at a lower cost, while 44,000 quintals are bought under open market procurement at the rate of Rs 4,000 a quintal. Antyodaya Anna Yojona cardholders can avail of 35kg of rice, free of cost, in a month while priority household cardholders are getting 5kg of rice free in a month, he said.