Starting early August, the Gujarat government will provide additional quantities of sugar and edible oil at subsidised rates to more than 75 lakh ration card holders, mainly those belonging to Antyodaya and Below Poverty Line (BPL) categories. The move is part of a special initiative aimed at helping underprivileged families celebrate Janmashtami with dignity, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya announced.
Under this festive relief program, each eligible family will receive one litre of double-filtered groundnut oil at a subsidised rate of ₹100. This benefit will be extended to households covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as well as qualifying Non-NFSA BPL families.
In addition, the government will offer one kilogram of sugar at concessional prices, Rs 22 per kg for BPL families and ₹15 per kg for Antyodaya cardholders—over and above their regular monthly entitlements.
Minister Bavaliya highlighted that Gujarat already supplies essential commodities like sugar, salt, chana, and tur dal to over 3.18 crore individuals through the public distribution system, covering more than 75 lakh ration cards.
However, during key festivals such as Janmashtami and Diwali, the state implements seasonal relief measures by distributing additional food items at reduced prices, aiming to lessen the financial strain on low-income families.
Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Bhikhusinh Parmar further stated that each Antyodaya and BPL household will also be given one kilogram of chana at Rs. 30 and one kilogram of tur dal at Rs. 50 during this festive season.
Moreover, all qualifying families under both NFSA and Non-NFSA BPL categories will receive salt at a nominal rate of Rs. 1 per kilogram per ration card.
