Subsidised cooking oils through ration shops from today

New Delhi (PTI): Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will launch the sale of subsidised cooking oils through ration shops from Andhra Pradesh on Monday.
The Minister would inaugurate the scheme of distribution of cooking oil, which was announced in April as part of the measures to give relief to the common man, from Tandur in Ranga Reddy district of the state.
Under the scheme, one kg of cooking oil would be provided per month to each family covered under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyoday Anna Yojna (AAY) categories.
Unlike wheat, rice and sugar, the commodities which are supplied to people at a fixed price, the Centre has not fixed a particular rate for edible oils.
It has agreed to bear a subsidy of Rs 15 per kg to be calculated on the import cost, as all the edible oils are to be supplied through imports.
The Centre has asked public sector trading companies STC, PEC and MMTC as well as cooperative major Nafed to import 10 lakh tons of edible oils during 2008-09 fiscal. Food Ministry has earmarked a subsidy of Rs 1,500 crore for the purpose.
These companies are importing RBD palmolein and crude soyabean oil and supplying to the States which have shown interest in the scheme.
Meanwhile, retail prices of branded soyabean oil hovers in the range of Rs 75-76 per litre while that of palmolein at Rs 64-66 a litre.
"Public Sector PEC, MMTC, STC and NAFED have been entrusted with the job of importing, refining, packing and distributing the subsidised edible oils," an official said.
Andhra Pradesh has been allocated the highest of 20,750 tons of edible oils per month, followed by Maharashtra (18,200 tons) and Tamil Nadu (15,500 tons). The states have been allocated the oils as per their requirement.
So far, orders have been placed for an import of 2.60 lakh tons of edible oils. Of this, 1.36 lakh tons of edible oils have been shipped and 39,800 tons have already been delivered to various states till July 21.