Govt to distribute subsidised edible oil to poorer sections

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) To provide relief to the poorer sections of society, the Government has introduced a scheme for the distribution of 10 lakh tonnes of imported edible oils in 2008-09 with a subsidy of Rs 15 per kg, through state governments or union territories at the rate of 1 kg per ration card per month.

Stating this, Minister of state for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh said, in a written reply, that the net availability of edible oils from all domestic sources during the period November 2007 to October 2008 was put at 84.92 lakh tonnes.

Edible oil import was estimated at 49.03 lakh tonnes, he told the members, adding that the excess oil demand was met through imports.

UNI SD ARB SB NS1422