CPI(M) urges Puducherry government to ensure regular ration supplies, clear pending rice

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called upon the Puducherry government to ensure uninterrupted distribution of subsidised essential commodities through ration shops and to immediately clear the pending rice supply from February 2026. In a statement, party Puducherry secretary S. Ramachandran said the closure of ration shops from September 2015 and the shift from the free rice scheme to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) had severely affected food security among the poor.

Ration shops, also known as fair price shops, are a key part of the public distribution system, providing food grains and other essentials at subsidised rates to eligible households. The PDS is widely recognised as a safety net for the poor. In Puducherry, these shops were shut down in September 2015, when the administration switched to DBT, which involved crediting cash subsidies to beneficiaries instead of distributing grains through shops. According to the CPI(M), this transition made it harder for poor families to access affordable food. After sustained public campaigns and protests, the shops were reopened through the Department of Civil Supplies on October 21, 2024.

The CPI(M) said it welcomed the reopening but noted that the regular supply of subsidised rice, dal, wheat, sugar, rava and cooking oil, reportedly assured by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, has not materialised. Only the rice allocation for January 2026 was distributed recently, while supplies due from February 2026 remain pending. The party also highlighted that open-market rice prices have risen by ₹10 to ₹35 per kg, placing an additional burden on low-income families who have to purchase from the open market. The delay in supplies has forced many families to spend more on essentials, squeezing their monthly budgets.

The party further alleged that the government's direct paddy procurement scheme from farmers, intended to supply rice to people at controlled prices, has remained inactive. It also said that 14 essential commodities earlier announced for distribution through ration shops have not been supplied, including staples such as dal, wheat, sugar, rava and cooking oil. The CPI(M) said that without these commodities, ration shops cannot adequately serve the public.

In its statement, the CPI(M) opposed the proposed Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based food subsidy distribution programme for the Union Territory. The Centre has proposed this scheme, under which food subsidies are credited digitally for use at authorised outlets. The party argued that such a move could weaken the public distribution system and eventually lead to the closure of ration shops.

The CPI(M) urged the government to continue operations through the more than 500 reopened ration shops, provide all essential commodities at subsidised prices, distribute the pending rice immediately, and revive direct paddy procurement from farmers. It appealed to Chief Minister N. Rangasamy to intervene and take permanent steps to ensure the food security of residents.

The party said that a robust public distribution system is crucial to protect poor households from market fluctuations and inflation. It reiterated its commitment to campaign until the promised supplies are fully restored.