Govt should provide 'free rice' to all card holders: CPI(M)

Puducherry, July 17 (UNI) The Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today demanded that the administration should continue with the 'free rice scheme' to all ration card holders in the Union Territory.

Addressing a press conference here today, CPI(M) Secretary V Perumal said Mr Rangasamy had signed the first file during his tenure to provide 'free rice' as promised in the election manifesto.

However, it could not be continued for more than one year. The BPL families holding red colour ration card be given 20 kg free rice per month and others 10 kg per month, he demanded adding that the income ceiling to come under the BPL class should be enhanced to Rs 60,000 per annum.

Mr Perumal demanded that a legislation be enacted to find a permanent solution to the allocation of government seats in private medical and engineering colleges here.

He said the group 'C' and ' D' posts at the Jipmer hospital should be filled up through Employment Exchange and with the local people. He also criticised the administration for transferring the anganwadi workers enmasse and added that it was not fair on the part of Welfare Minister M Kandasamy to issue the order on the basis of certain allegations by some legislators.

UNI