15 kg of rice for all APL card holders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All APL category ration card holders will be allotted 15 kg of rice, Food and Civil Supplies Minister T M Jacob said here on Saturday. The allocation thus far was 10.5 kg.The excess rice will be sourced from the Centre, Jacob said after discussions with Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas here. "The State Government is planning to supply rice at `14 to `16 a kilo in a bid to reduce rice prices in the open market. The Centre has agreed to allot the rice needed for this scheme. The State Government is working out the details," he said. "To ensure that the quality of wheat and rice sold through ration shops is good, the government will appoint a committee," he added. Jacob said that he had requested the Union Minister not to reduce the state's kerosene allocation.