PDS facility for taxpayers

Shimla, November 12

The government has decided to resume the PDS facility for income taxpayers. The tax-paying ration card holders will now get flour and rice at subsidised rates, and oil, pulses, salt and sugar at non-subsidised rates. The government had earlier decided to discontinue the subsidy on the foodgrains to the tax payers. Debarring 1.5 lakh taxpayers from availing the PDS facility, the government had said the decision would help it to include the poor in the BPL category.

A Food and Civil Supplies spokesperson said the ration cards of the income tax payers, which were blocked earlier, had also been unblocked. While the taxpayers could buy the subsidised flour and rice, they could purchase pulses, oil, salt and sugar as soon as their prices were fixed. — TNS